INTRODUCING the Spam Allardyce – a meaty burger with a solid midfield combo.

The burger, created by Bolton restaurateur Franco Sotgiu, is the latest addition to the menu at Solita – and looks sure to be a winner with fans.

Named after former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, its formation includes panko fried hickory smoked Spam, fried Portobello mushrooms and a fried egg.

The pork and sage US style patty is topped off with a hat-trick of crispy belly pork, burger cheese and HP sauce in a Brioche bun.

Franco regularly travels abroad to research and for inspiration for his weird and wonderful creations.

He stumbled across several flavours of Spam while in Vietnam – from hickory smoke to oven roasted turkey and even Spam Lite.

UK foodies may think of Spam as being worthy only of fritters or a foodstuff stuck in the '80s - battling to open the tin with its little key. 

But, around the world, there's a world of Spam to be discovered. 

Franco said: “People love it or hate it.

“But it’s not seen as a cheap meat anymore.

“It costs the best part of £2 a can.”

Outside the UK, there are numerous flavours of Spam products - Jalapeno Spam, Spam with Black Pepper and Spam Cheese – as well as a spreadable version.

Franco posted a picture of the burger on Twitter and invited people to come up with a name, with the nod to the Crystal Palace manager emerging as the favourite.

Franco said: “We had 200 entries for the name of it and that’s the one that got the most likes.

“It’s got the local connection and with me being from Bolton.

“I just hope it’s on the menu longer than he was England manager!”

The tasty creation is on the Solita menu from today, at its branches in Prestwich, Manchester, Didsbury and Preston.

With Big Sam living in Bromley Cross, there’s every chance he could be trying out his Spam-tastic namesake anytime soon.

Franco's family has been in the restaurant trade since 1964 when his father Salvatore came over from Italy to work in Enzo's, Bradshawgate, Bolton, before opening his own restaurant in Westhoughton.

As well as his fab four, Franco is still hoping to add a new addition to his super squad in the form of a Bolton branch of Solita.

Speaking of the recent regeneration of Bolton’s Market Place Shopping Centre, he said: “The Vaults has given us encouragement to reassess coming to Bolton. It’s on our radar.

“We’ve not got Solita into Bolton yet but we’ve got Bolton into Solita.”

Who else could join Spam Allardyce on the menu? Leave your comments below

Sir Alex Burgerson

Bruce Brioche

Paul Mince

Little Spammy Lee

Matthew Fry-up

Franck Rib-éry