Marton Fulop says Sunderland's players are pleased to have Ricky Sbragia in charge.

The 25-year-old Hungary international said: "I definitely feel the team is in good hands.

"If it was up to the team to decide who the next manager was, we would give the job to Ricky straight away. He has been brilliant for us since he took over.

"Everyone in the team would back him to do the job permanently - but it is not our decision.

"It is up to the board to decide, and we are looking forward to hearing their decision."

Sbragia admitted ahead of the West Brom game that elements of the manager's job had taken him by surprise, and that there were some aspects of it which he did not like.

However, from the players' point of view, he appears to have managed the transition from coach to caretaker with ease.

Fulop said: "Ricky has changed his role, but that has not been a problem for any of us.

"When he was appointed as the caretaker, we knew things would change - you can't make as many jokes with him anymore - but it's not like everything goes out of the window.

"He still has a great sense of humour and we still enjoy working with him as much.

"Personally, I don't think it has been a great change, although he is acting more like a manager now. He is the boss instead of being one of the lads, and we all respect that.

"The fact that he knows how everything works has made it easier for him to step in. That's why the whole thing has worked so well.

"He knows the squad inside out. He has his own views on football and maybe we have benefited from that a bit."