Sunderland fullback Phil Bardsley is enjoying the club's new status this season.

The Black Cats have prospered under new manager Steve Bruce, and sit eighth in the table after 12 games, just a place and two points behind Liverpool.

Bardsley told the Sunday Sun: "It's great, I'm enjoying it more than ever, I enjoy the coaching of Steve Bruce and Eric Black and I think I'm improving my game.

"It's great to be competing as well at the top end of the table and some of the games we've had of late have been fantastic.

"The Manchester United games and the Liverpool games stand out for me. I left the pitch after both games thinking 'Wow', because they were great games to be involved in.

"I think any team which gives the big teams a run for their money, you have to say fair play to them and to take four points off those two was pretty good going.

"Now, though we have to keep it going."