Steve Bruce: “There’s a football game to played this weekend between Sunderland and their opponents and, like any other game, I’ll be going all out to get the best possible result for Sunderland that I can.
“I was a professional footballer and now I’m a professional manager and, just like when I was a player at Manchester United, boyhood loyalties don’t come into it.
“I’m proud of that, proud of being born in the North East and of the values that were instilled in me up here.
“But that never stopped me trying my absolute hardest to beat Newcastle United when I was a player and nothing changed when I became a manager.
“The fact that I’m manager of Sunderland might add a bit more spice to it, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s business as usual.
“Sunderland have got a game this weekend, and me and my staff will be going all out to get the best result we can on the day – same as any other game.”