Johnson, who has been out of work since leaving Fleetwood Town last December, won the EFL Trophy with the Black Cats in 2021, but missed out in the play-off semi-finals that season to Lincoln City.

The 43-year-old left the Stadium of Light after a 6-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers when the club was third in the table.

But the former Bristol City and Barnsley boss has been impressed by how Sunderland have started this season, with a squad that still includes players like midfielder Dan Neil and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who were regulars under him in the third tier.

“It’s a young squad and a fantastic start which you often see with a young squad,” Johnson told 72+: The EFL Podcast.

“The challenge will be in the winter months to sustain that performance level.

“But they look like they’ve got agility, identity, a playing style which is good and a lot of those lads have been together from their League One days.”