Former Manchester United and England star Bryan Robson underwent surgery this week to remove a throat tumour. And Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has sent his best wishes to his former team-mate as he battles throat cancer.

Bruce said: "I have known about the situation for a couple of weeks. Obviously, you respect his family's decision to try to keep it quiet and remain private.

"I think I speak for all the football people and all the journalists who have ever known him or come across him.

"For me, he is a personal friend and when it's a personal friend, all you can hope is they have removed the tumour.

"They are doing all sorts of tests now to see what the next stage is, and we all hope it goes well.

"If there's one person who can fight his way through it, then I am sure Bryan can because he has done that all his life."