Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has said that Fraizer Campbell is close to a return to first-team action following a knee injury.

The striker has been sidelined since April after he ruptured ligaments in his knee.

"Fraizer is just remarkable," said Bruce. "We hope that by Christmas he can be involved in the first team again. It's a quite remarkable achievement.

"It's testament to all the hard work he's done. If you'd seen the running he's doing, you'd just say 'Wow'.

"He's had two cruciate injuries, but he looks brand new and full of life. There's no sign of any limp or any deficiency."

The Black Cats take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.