O'Neill excited by Cats tenure

The Northern Irishman was named as Steve Bruce's successor at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract. He will be in the stands for Sunday's clash with Wolves as Bruce's former assistant Eric Black takes temporary charge of team affairs, but is excited about starting work with the squad over the next week. O'Neill's mission will be to steer the Black Cats away from their current position just outside the Premier League relegation zone. "It's not to try and earn any sort of brownie points, but Sunderland were my favourite team as a boy," he told Sky Sports News. "Where I came from in Northern Ireland you had two, either Celtic or Rangers, and obviously I was a big Celtic fan at that stage, but all school pals took on English teams and Sunderland it was for me because of Charlie Hurley, and I have remained a supporter ever since. "That aside, it is a massive club, they are very passionate up there and I would love to do well." O'Neill has been out of the football spotlight since leaving his previous role with Aston Villa just before the 2010/11 campaign kicked off, but his hunger for the game remains as strong as ever. Asked if his appetite was actually even greater because of the long absence, O'Neill replied: "I don't think that has changed at all. "I think I have always had a great enthusiasm for the game, and I always feel as though I am ready. "I suppose time will tell, but I think that I am ready and I want to do it."