Chris Wilder reveals Steve Bruce kind gesture ahead of Newcastle United's visit to Sheffield United

Inexperienced Wilder guided the Blades back to the top flight last season against the odds. He’s worked wonders since the summer, too – and he puts some of that down to a conversation with Bruce, who he describes as a manager who always lends a sympathetic ear.

"Steve is one alongside Sean Dyche, Sam (Allardyce) and other people who pick up the phone to you. I have spoken to him in summer and a quite a number of times.

"He is an experienced manager. You are not just given jobs in the Premier League if you are bang average and Steve isn't bang average as a manager and a person. I speak to him quite regularly and I am certainly not surprised by the job he is doing at Newcastle.

"It is a big, big job and a huge football club and one that needed a big personality and they have certainly got one in Steve."

Speaking of Bruce’s decision to leave Sheffield United’s city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Wilder said: "There was lots of talk in this area about this decision and it was a decision that did not surprise me at all.

"I have talked long and hard about the importance of LMA (League Managers' Association) from a young manager's point of view. And Steve has certainly been there for myself and a lot of new managers.”