Phil Bardsley is happy with the pre-season run-out against Munster and says it was a useful exercise. The former Manchester United defender took the captain's armband after coming on at half time and helped his team rub out a one-goal deficit.

Sunderland have now been back in pre-season training for a little over a week and Phil Bardsley felt their first run-out was an ideal loosener.

Speaking exclusively to safc.com, he revealed: "It's good to be back getting a taste of football again after an extended break because of the World Cup.

"We've only been training for a few days, so it was about getting back to basics. I think it was a good run-out for the lads.

"We looked sharper in the second half. The lads who came on wanted to up the tempo and win the game and we managed to do that."

Sunderland right-back Phil Bardsley is set to join newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion for a fee believed to be in the region of £1.2m.

Bardsley had turned in some good performances at the Stadium of Light during Sunderland’s impressive early season run but eventually lost his place to on-loan Alan Hutton, while West Bromwich Albion are keen to return to the Premier League with more defensive solidity.

Roberto Di Matteo’s West Bromwich Albion side finished in the Championship’s second promotion spot with 91 points and the Baggies boss is keen to recruit players with top flight experience, such as Sunderland’s Bardsley, in order to avoid yet another top flight relegation.

The Sunderland Echo quotes Black Cats manager Steve Bruce as saying: "Phil wants to play every week – all players do – and I understand that.

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has admitted he could leave the Stadium of Light if a move would give him regular first-team football.

Bardsley, 24, has found himself used as a substitute in recent matches having been ousted at right-back by the loan signing of Tottenham's Alan Hutton.

"If it's to be at Sunderland, or somewhere else, all you want is to play football," Bardsley told BBC Newcastle.

"I'll look after myself, and keep myself in the best shape that I can."

The former Manchester United full-back, who was a team-mate of Hutton's during a loan spell at Rangers in the 2006-07 season, has filled a variety of positions this season as Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has looked to plug gaps created by injuries to Michael Turner, George McCartney and John Mensah.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is unlikely to risk top-scorer Darren Bent after the striker picked up a knee injury at the weekend.

The Black Cats striker jarred his knee in the defeat to Birmingham on Saturday and Bruce is set to leave him out of tonight's Carling Cup tie against Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Defender Phil Bardsley is unlikely to feature with a shoulder injury, while fellow defender John Mensah is also set to miss out as he has a calf injury.

Long-term absentee Lee Cattermole will be out of action until January but Bruce is expected to name his strongest possible starting eleven after admitting he was keen to see his side progress as far as possible in the competition.

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has revealed he is relishing the prospect of taking on Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

Bardsley, 24, is a fan of and former player of the Reds' rivals Manchester United, whom he left for Sunderland for £2m in January 2008.

He told BBC Newcastle: "You want to play against good players and Liverpool have good players.

"Hopefully we can mix it with them and get the right result."

Salford-born Bardsley graduated via the Red Devils' academy to make 18 appearances for the Old Trafford side.

Bardsley's three managers at the Stadium of Light, Roy Keane, Ricky Sbragia and Steve Bruce, have all been on the Manchester United playing or coaching staff.

And the right-back, who is eligible to play for England, Republic of Ireland or Scotland, has hailed Bruce's impact as manager at the Stadium of Light.

"First and foremost it's drilled in a winning mentality to us and his man-management skills in general are brilliant, he knows when to give the lads stick and when to have camaraderie with us, a bit of banter," he said.

"I think that's a fine line between decent managers and top managers and I think he's got that in abundance."

Sunderland fullback Phil Bardsley says they can go into their next game against Liverpool full of confidence after their performance at Manchester United.

Bardsley told safc.com: "We know what we have to do against Liverpool - repeat our performance against Man United.

"If we do, we can get something. Hopefully the lads who are away will come back fit. We will give it a good go.

"We're getting there as a team. The new lads who've come in are settling well.

"If we keep progressing as we are there's no reason why we can't carry on pushing up the league."