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Steve Bruce set to be named manager of Aston Villa - reports

Aston Villa are set to name Steve Bruce as their new manager on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Villa have been seeking a replacement for Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked last week following a poor start to the season which has left them 19th in the Championship.

Former Birmingham and Hull boss Bruce had been considered favourite for the post and the 55-year-old is now poised to be confirmed as the new Villa manager.

Villa owner Tony Xia revealed on Tuesday night that Di Matteo's replacement should be unveiled in the next 24 hours, although he did not name any names.

Xia wrote on his official Twitter account: "Scheduled to announce the new manager tomorrow! Time for all to stand together and back the team! Believe we've made the best try!"

Villa, relegated from the Premier League last season, host Wolves on Saturday.

Bruce has been out of work since leaving Hull in July. Prior to his four-year spell in charge of the Tigers, the ex-Manchester United defender managed the likes of Sunderland, Wigan and Crystal Palace.

His longest stint as a manager so far came with Villa's city rivals Birmingham, who he was with between 2001 and 2007 and twice helped win promotion to the Premier League.

Bruce, who was in the running for the England job when Sam Allardyce was appointed, is hopeful of getting the deal done on Wednesday.

He told ITV Sport: "All I can says is I think I am in the frame. I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow and we'll see how it goes. It is not agreed as such."