Steve Bruce plans to contact Phil Parkinson at Sunderland

Parkinson was this week appointed as successor to Jack Ross at the Stadium of Light.

And Newcastle United manager Bruce – who spent two years at Sunderland earlier in his managerial career – plans to contact Parkinson.

Asked if he had wished Parkinson good luck at the League One club, Bruce said: “Not just yet.

“But I will do the next couple of weeks. I don’t really know him.”