Bruce: Hard graft brings reward... believe me!
STEVE Bruce has challenged his young troops to give their all as they look to make a breakthrough this season – and has highlighted his own career as evidence that hard work really does pay off.
The Villa boss enjoyed a glittering career as a player at Manchester United and it was only on Monday night that Red Devils’ legend Gary Neville reminded younger supporters of the former defender’s qualities.
He described Bruce as one of the best stoppers he’d ever worked with – and to think many were quick to write him off.
Sitting proudly on the toilet wall at Bruce’s home is a scouting report, presented to him by Alex Ferguson as a gift on his departure from Old Trafford in 1996.
Bruce explained: “One of United’s scouts had come to see me play when I was at Gillingham.
“It reads: ‘Bruce moved from the back into midfield because he had a head injury.
“‘Rather slow on the turn. Technically, not very good. His left side is awful. Can’t run. Not the biggest.
“‘For me, a Third Division player all his life – that’s his level!’ And that’s what Fergie presented me with as a going-away present. “That hangs proudly in my toilet where people can have a look at it and think : ‘Oh my God, how good was that?’ “It just shows you. If you roll your sleeves up, have a go, get on with it and get yourself in the best nick you can, anything can happen.” Bruce offers up that advice to his younger players looking to make a name for themselves in the first team this season.
So far he’s given chances to Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Andre Green and Jake Doyle-Hayes and is hoping they can soon help make a difference.
“I never criticise anyone for making an individual error,” he said.
“All I’ve asked of any of my teams over the years is roll up your sleeves, put your boots on and have a go.
“And if they do that I’ll forgive anything because, basically, that’s what I did.
“I put my boots on and I had a go – I wasn’t blessed with anything naturally.”