Norwich City boss Chris Hughton believes that Gus Poyet is the right man for Sunderland.
The Uruguayan has picked up just eight points from nine games since taking over from Paolo Di Canio, although they booked their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in midweek.
The Black Cats are bottom heading into today's match at the Stadium of Light, while the Canaries are nine points ahead of them in 14th place.
However, Hughton believes that the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder's passion will rub off on his players.
"Gus was a wonderful player, but was always very passionate about the way he played the game and his thoughts on the game, so it was no surprise to me that he went into coaching and management," Sky Sports News quotes the 55-year-old as saying.
"Gus's responsibility now will be to put his own stamp on the team and I am quite sure he will do that. Sunderland will be boosted to have got through to the semi-finals of the League Cup, but we have to look at ourselves.
"We are on the back of a good performance against Swansea and also off a good away result at West Brom, so we want to keep the momentum ourselves."
Norwich have taken seven points from their last four matches.
Michael Penkman
