Bruce return stirs bad memories
STEVE BRUCE knows he owes a debt of gratitude to Sheffield United for launching his managerial career 21 years ago.
That is despite admitting his Bramall Lane experience almost led to him turning his back on football.
Life’s gone full circle in the two decades since Bruce turned down a lucrative offer from Sky Sports to become one of their main pundits after parting ways with the Blades.
And tonight he will take hometown club Newcastle to where it all started.
It has not been easy for Bruce since succeeding Rafa Benitez
VIan Murtagh
on Tyneside but he describes his time with the Magpies as “a cakewalk” compared to what he went through with the Blades.
“The uncertainty above me wasn’t easy,” he said. “I had five chief executives in a year!
“I remember one Christmas Dean Saunders whistling down the corridor with his bags an hour before we were due to leave on the coach to play Bristol City. He said, ‘So, no one told you? I signed for Benfica 20 minutes ago’.”
Chris Wilder, manager of Premier League new boys Sheffield United, was one of Bruce’s players during his brief stint there and the pair still talk regularly. He said: “Over the summer, Chris was seeking my advice on one or two things. He was asking about getting to the Premier League.”
SHEFFIELD UNITED (probable):
Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; Mousset, McGoldrick.
NEWCASTLE (probable):
Manquillo, Fernandez, Clark, Willems; Hayden, Shelvey; Joelinton, Saint-Maximin.
Dubravka; Dummett, Almiron,