Former Fulham defender Rufus Brevett has admitted that he was "surprised" by Sunderland's decision to appoint Paolo Di Canio as the club's new manager.

The 44-year-old was named as the Premier League outfit's new boss a day after Martin O'Neill was sacked by the North East club.

Di Canio heads to the Stadium of Light following his exit from League One outfit Swindon Town in February.

"I'm surprised by the news," Brevett told talkSPORT. "Paolo Di Canio is a great guy and he has done wonders at Swindon. But it is a massive, massive gamble."

Di Canio will take his first training session with the Black Cats today.