Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon has appointed former England international Steve Howey to his coaching staff.

Howey, 39, was capped four times by England during his days at Newcastle United, for whom he also played in the 1998 FA Cup final. He also played for Manchester City, Leicester, Bolton and Hartlepool, before starting a coaching career.

He had a spell as a coach at Middlesbrough, before moving on to East Durham College in 2007.

Howey has experience of the Northern League, having managed Crook Town five seasons ago.