Manager Sam Allardyce has suggested that he did not come out of retirement to be considered as a 'rescue-act' for Everton.

Earlier this season, Allardyce was brought in as a replacement for Ronald Koeman, who was struggling to move the Toffees clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Everton now sit in ninth position in the standings - eight points above the bottom three - but Allardyce has claimed that he is looking to secure a long-term stay with the Merseyside outfit.

The 63-year-old told The Guardian: "As long as I continue to improve the club going forward then it's not a short-term fix for me. It is about fixing it first and then planning for the future, which has not been in the forefront of my mind for a while because it has all been about 'Come and rescue us'.

"Coming back out of retirement was not to come and rescue someone else again but to do bigger things in the future. A club this size, with this ambition, is a great opportunity for me to finish my career here hopefully."

Allardyce has recorded six wins and four draws from his 15 matches in charge of Everton.