FORMER Sunderland assistant manager Paul Bracewell could be set to return to the club as a coach.

The 39-year-old former England international, who parted company with Third Division outfit Halifax Town earlier this season, has been linked with a job at another of his old clubs, Newcastle United.

But Bracewell is a close friend of Wearside boss Peter Reid, who currently has a vacancy on his coaching staff following the departure this week of his former Everton team-mate Kevin Richardson, who has joined Carlton Palmer at the First Division's bottom club Stockport County.

Richardson, who played alongside Palmer at Southampton, was in charge of Sunderland's Under-17s but told Reid that he was keen to move into senior coaching and wanted to take the opportunity at Edgeley Park.

Bracewell, who left Sunderland to become player-coach at Fulham under Kevin Keegan and later became manager of the London Club, watched Sunderland's 1-0 defeat at Leicester last week, which saw the Wearsiders slip to fifth bottom place in the Premiership after three defeats in four games.

Meanwhile, Reid will allow three of his players currently out on loan to play in next week's FA Cup First Round matches.

Striker Mark Proctor and England youth international defender Mark Maley have been cleared to play in York City's tie at Colchester, while Irish midfielder Brendan McGill, on a temporary transfer at Carlisle, will be in action in the Cumbrians' tie at Barnet.

The decision does not affect winger Chris Lumsdon, currently on loan at First Division Barnsley, whose FA Cup involvement does not start until the Third Round in January.

Sunderland have been forced to reverse this morning's two Academy fixtures with Leeds United.

Pitches at the Charlie Hurley Centre, Whitburn, are waterlogged following the recent bad weather and the Under-19 and Under-17 games will now be staged at Thorpe Arch Grange, Walton Road, Wetherby at 11am.

The scheduled away fixtures against Leeds, due to be played on January 19, will now be played at Whitburn.

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