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Sheffield Wednesday are set to confirm Steve Bruce’s appointment as manager this week.

Wednesday are understood to have agreed terms on a £2million-a-year contract with Bruce to succeed Jos Luhukay.

Bruce is the Owls’ No 1 choice to take over at Hillsborough and it is believed they lined him up before sacking Dutchman Luhukay on December 21.

The 57-year-old, who began his managerial career at city rivals Sheffield United, told Wednesday he wanted to spend Christmas and New Year with his family after losing both parents this year.

His backroom coaches Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence have already started watching Wednesday in preparation for his arrival and the Owls hope he will in place for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Luton.

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Owner Dejphon Chansiri, who sacked Luhukay after a miserable run of just one win in 10 games, believes Bruce could mount a play-off bid and the Geordie has won four promotions from the second tier with Birmingham and Hull — the last by beating the Owls in the 2016 play-off final.

Chansiri has promised Bruce, who was sacked by Aston Villa in October, he will have cash to spend in the transfer window and it is understood the pair have already begun working on targets.

Caretaker Lee Bullen is keen for an appointment to be made soon, even though he has steadied Wednesday by recording two wins and a draw from his three games in charge.

(Image: PA)

“I would think there will be an announcement in the next couple of days,” he said. “It’s not the sort of thing you want dragging on and dragging on.

“I think it needs to be done sooner rather than later so the players know exactly where they stand as well because you don’t want people in limbo.

“The sooner it’s done the better, in my opinion, especially with the transfer window coming up.”