This article is part of Football League World's 'Regular Punter' series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World's Sunderland fan pundit Charlie Hodgson has suggested that he has seen improvements under Phil Parkinson already but that the jury is still out on the new Black Cats boss.

Parkinson was brought in to replace Jack Ross earlier this month and has got off to an inconsistent start–losing three of his first four games in charge but also producing some impressive performances.

He lost narrowly away at second-place Wycombe Wanderers in his first game in charge but bounced back with a 5-0 win against Tranmere Rovers last week, before slipping to a 1-0 loss to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

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Parkinson suffered his third loss as Sunderland loss last night as his side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Oxford United on penalties.

It is early days yet for the 51-year-old, who will likely need some time before a fair assessment can be made of him at the club.

Hodgson suggested that while the jury is still out there have been some positive indications.

He explained:  "I haven’t really formed an opinion on Parkinson yet as we haven’t had the best results but I can see real improvements in the team.

"We scored five goals and kept a clean sheet in the same game, which under Ross looked impossible this season, but we’ve also lost two league games out three under Parkinson.

"I can't really say I’m particularly impressed but I’m also not unimpressed and there are definite improvements, which if they're built on could lead to a very successful reign."

Sunderland face struggling Southend United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.