The 52-year-old is happy with his recruitment programme so far but he is continuing work to strengthen the squad he inherited from Glenn Roeder as the closure of the transfer window looms.

However, he believes the spending sparked by new owners and the latest television deal has raised the stakes and left managers in an even more vulnerable position.

He said: "There are already lots of managers coming under increasing pressure and we have only got a handful of games played.

"It shows what a volatile world we are living in - because there is more money come into the game, it appears the pressure levels have gone up on the managers already.

"I predicted that way back in May if anybody was listening, and it appears all of a sudden, it's already happening, particularly with (Tottenham boss) Martin Jol."

Allardyce has enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season under new owner Mike Ashley, who was in the crowd for the first time at Middlesbrough for the 2-2 draw on Sunday and again at St James' Park last night as Michael Owen returned to goalscoring form in a 2-0 Carling Cup win over Barnsley.

Ashley has sanctioned Allardyce's summer spending but the departures of Scott Parker and the unfortunate Kieron Dyer to West Ham have offset his investment.

Like any manager, he is not yet satisfied with his lot as he attempts to add the kind of defensive resilience which has eluded his predecessors to the undoubted potency his side possesses in attack.

Brazilian Claudio Cacapa's impressive 90 minutes against Barnsley as David Rozehnal was rested was a step in the right direction, but Allardyce is determined to stamp out the fragility which twice allowed Boro to level last weekend.

He said: "We have got to make sure that when we take a lead, we keep hold of it.

"There are going to be occasions when you let that lead slip, particularly playing away from home, but to let it slip twice...

"And the way we allowed it to slip is something I want the lads to really concentrate on, look at and learn from and make sure if we get in that position again, it just does not happen and we come away with three points.

"Scoring two goals away from home in any Premier League game is a massive ask, and those two goals should always be securing you three points, not one.

"Looking at the goals we conceded, they were very stoppable, both of them."

Emre limped off shortly after half-time in midweek and could be a doubt, but Allardyce's biggest decision could come in attack with Owen desperate to start once again.