JULIO Arca plans to make the most of his strong links with Sunderland after returning to South Shields as boss - and would love his side to play Tony Mowbray-style football.

Having enjoyed a memorable three years at Shields as a player - skippering the side to FA Vase glory and winning three promotions - Arca returned to the 1st Cloud Arena last week when he was confirmed as Kevin Phillips' replacement in the dugout with the National League North newcomers.

It's Arca's first management role but he's already set about surrounding himself with experience, adding ex-Hartlepool United and Sunderland midfielder Tommy Miller as his new assistant.

Miller has crucial knowledge of the division from his time at Spennymoor and knows Arca well, with the pair having played together at Sunderland.

And Arca has already set about trying to take advantage of his close connections with the Black Cats, with Shields potentially in the market to sign young Sunderland players on loan this summer.

"It could be an option," said Arca at his unveiling on Wednesday.

"I've already spoken with the Under-21s manager so we will see who is available. In pre-season we will have to see some players.

"At the moment it's a busy time, players get released there's a lot of players looking for a club who are calling, so it's a busy few weeks, but hopefully we can get things sorted out pretty quick."

Tony Mowbray is someone Arca knows well having played for the now Sunderland head coach when he was in charge at Middlesbrough.

And although Arca learnt different things from all of the managers he played for - which includes current England boss Gareth Southgate - his time with Mowbray was particularly enjoyable.

Arca said: "All the managers I had were different, with different personalities and styles, but I am more inclined towards the ones who like to play football.

"Tony, this season, has shown what he is capable of without a striker, with injured players, and the way Sunderland have been playing, especially this season, is probably the best football Sunderland have played in many, many years.

"Young players, players who are not particularly well known around the recruitment market, have come in and done really, really well.

"So yes, if I had to look at someone's style, that would be my style, but you have to adapt to the league as well, always with an option B or option C if necessary.

"Ideally I would like the team to play football. It's not easy in some places to go and play because of the state of the pitch and conditions.

"I think the team now has the tools to play football, we have technical players. We need to change a few things around but I'm sure we can build on last year."

Arca has long fancied a punt at management but wanted to wait for what he deemed the right opportunity - and when Shields chairman Geoff Thompson called him in the aftermath of Phillips' surprise exit, he couldn't say no.

"It's great to be back at the club after so many years, obviously a different role with different expectations," he said.

"It's a good challenge. I always had it in my mind to try a management career, I've done my coaching badges, I still feel young and this could be the start of something.

"Obviously with the help of Tommy coming on board, who played alongside me, he knows the leagues very well after spending a long time at Spennymoor, so I think we've got a good partnership going on.

"The club has progressed and grown since I was here as a player. This opportunity presented itself and this feels like the right time.

"Kev (Kevin Phillips) did really well to get them promotion. Whatever happened between the club and him, the opportunity arose for me. I haven't spoken to Kev yet but I will try to."