Former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has claimed that the club sacked him prematurely.

The ex-Manchester United captain said that he deserves some of the credit for the team's revival under his successor Martin O'Neill.

"I completely rebuilt our side with the money we received from Liverpool for Jordan Henderson," The Mirror quotes Bruce as saying.

"Martin O'Neill is a good manager and has undoubtedly motivated the players, but what's now being seen is the players I brought in bedding down and proving how good they are.

"James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon are the headline stealers, but we signed them, of course.

"I'm genuinely pleased for Sunderland and for Martin, yet we were only 11 games into a new season when I left. I wasn't given much time, was I?"

O'Neill has guided Sunderland from the Premier League relegation zone to the top half of the table since taking over in December last year.