Steve Bruce: Former Hull manager 'expecting phone call' from Aston Villa today to confirm appointment

Bruce revealed on ITV Sport that he is 'in the frame' to replace the sacked Roberto di Matteo

Bruce has been out of work since leaving Hull in July

(Getty)

Steve Bruce is "expecting a phone call" from Aston Villa this morning as he is primed to take the managerial hotseat at Villa Park.

Villa have been seeking a replacement for Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked last week following a poor start to the season which has left them 19th in the Sky Bet Championship.

Former Birmingham and Hull boss Bruce had been considered favourite for the post and the 55-year-old is now poised to be confirmed as the new Villa manager.

He told ITV Sport while acting as a pundit on Tuesday night: "All I can say is I think I am in the frame. I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow and we'll see how it goes. It is not agreed as such."

Villa owner Tony Xia revealed on Tuesday night that Di Matteo's replacement should be unveiled in the next 24 hours, although he did not name any names.

Xia wrote on his official Twitter account: "Scheduled to announce the new manager tomorrow! Time for all to stand together and back the team! Believe we've made the best try!"

Villa, relegated from the Premier League last season, host Wolves on Saturday.

Bruce has been out of work since leaving Hull in July, though was interviewed for the England job when Sam Allardyce was appointed.

Prior to his four-year spell in charge of the Tigers, the ex-Manchester United defender managed the likes of Sunderland, Wigan and Crystal Palace.

His longest stint as a manager so far came with Villa's city rivals Birmingham, who he was with between 2001 and 2007 and twice helped win promotion to the Premier League.

PA.