Steve relishes derby day

STEVE BRUCE is looking forward to finally experiencing a Steel City derby – 21 years after first managing in Sheffield.

Bruce’s first coaching job was as Sheffield United player-manager in 1998 when he led them to eighth in the second tier before he quit in May 1999 due to a dispute with the board.

He never got to sample a derby during his one season at Bramall Lane as Sheffield Wednesday were in the Premier League. But after tasting the red-hot atmospheres of the

Tyne-Wear and Birmingham derbies, he is excited about his first

Steel City clash in the 130th meeting between the two fierce rivals.

Bruce said: “Sheffield United was my first job as a manager all those years ago and being involved in a Steel City derby was something I was looking forward to.

“It wasn’t possible back then but it was something I had pencilled in for the future.

“But it never happened before I left Bramall Lane and now it’s here for me and I’m relishing it.

“It’s one of the reasons why I came back into management. It’s games like this that get the juices flowing.”

United boss Chris Wilder played under Bruce in what was his last season at Bramall Lane and he has huge respect for the former

Sunderland, Aston Villa, Wigan,

Birmingham and Hull boss.

Wilder notes the progress Bruce has already made at Wednesday, with the Owls mounting a late play-off bid after going six games unbeaten.

“Steve was here as a playermanager, then for a short period as manager,” he said.

“That was the first time I got to know him on a personal level.

“I wasn’t really playing regular football so it wasn’t a big relationship. But he has taken note of my career and I don’t think you cannot take note of Steve’s career as a manager and what he’s done in football.

“He’s a proper football man and a proper guy. He’s a man who I have an enormous amount of respect for.

“He says it as it is, and he has certainly galvanised a really good group of players, at a powerful football club.”

Wilder is enjoying a brilliant campaign at United, who are promotion contenders, but insists they can still improve.

“We’ve won our last three in a row without conceding a goal but we don’t want to stand still,” said the Blades boss.

“I’m enjoying what we’re doing but we’ve still got things to learn that will make us even better.”