Former Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is being linked with the West Brom job.

The Daily Mail says Bruce is poised to make a dramatic return to football with West Brom after the Championship club sacked Valerien Ismael.

The former Newcastle manager, who left St James' Park in October, is believed to be Albion's No 1 choice following the departure of the unpopular Ismael and the appointment of former Chelsea supremo Ron Gourlay as chief executive, in place of Xu Ke.

Bruce has won promotion to the Premier League with both Birmingham and Hull while also leading Aston Villa to the play-off final in 2018. Albion believe he has the pedigree and experience to stabilise a team heading in the wrong direction.

West Brom would hope to have Bruce at the helm by the time they face Sheffield United – another of his former clubs – on February 9.