Steve Bruce is hoping his Sunderland side can help him to the "next step" in his career by landing some silverware.

The Wearsiders take on Aston Villa in the fourth round of the Carling Cup at the Stadium of Light tonight with Bruce banking on his players to enable him to achieve a personal milestone.

Bruce, who arrived at Sunderland from Wigan over the summer, said: "I think managers are put under huge pressure to stay in the Premier League. If you don't then you can lose your job.

"My attitude towards it is 'what am I managing for?'

"We all dream about being a Premier League manager and the next step is 'can we realistically win something?'

"I have never been remotely close but that has to be the aim."

Sunderland have not reached the League Cup final since 1985 when they lost to a Norwich side which featured a young Bruce at centre-half.

And the former Manchester United defender is hoping the club can make a serious bid for a place at Wembley this time round.

He added: "If you can get on a cup run it can give the whole club, the whole area a boost.

"I think the fans want to see you take it seriously and we have a chance, we are a Premier League team.

"But this competition is more difficult than the FA Cup as the big boys don't come into it (the FA Cup) until later."

The Black Cats certainly won't find it easy against a club Bruce openly admits Sunderland should try to copy on and off the pitch.

"Villa have been in the Premier League for some time and they have strengthened the squad and it is now looking very healthy," he said.

"If there is one club we should try to copy then it would be Aston Villa.

"The training ground is fantastic, they have invested and put their faith in Martin O'Neill, given him the ammunition he needs.

"He waited all summer and then brought in the likes of James Collins, Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock, three great signings.

"Before that he got (Emile) Heskey, (James) Milner, (Ashley) Young, (Nicky) Shorey, (Steve) Sidwell."

Bruce also spent heavily in the summer but his most expensive acquisition, Darren Bent, won't feature tonight after sustaining a knee injury in the disappointing 2-1 defeat at Birmingham at the weekend.

Bruce remains hopeful Bent will be ready for Saturday's visit of West Ham and is relieved it was not more serious.

He said: "He has had a bad knock, it wobbled his knee a bit, gave him a fright.

"It was close to being serious but I don't think it is fortunately. It is not his ligaments. He twisted his knee, rattled everything inside."

Bent will be joined on the sidelines by defenders John Mensah and Phil Bardsley, who are also injured.