‘Greatest’ lying in wait for Phil Bardsley

Oct 2 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

“He’s not big time one little bit. We have seen different people struggle to come to terms with the fame and what goes with it. Ryan has been great with all of that and come through terrifically.”

Bruce was a seasoned pro when he first encountered Ryan Wilson in 1989. Such was the impact of the future Ryan Giggs, it has lived with him ever since.

“He’s the only kid I’ve ever seen at 14 or 15 where you knew he was going to be a superstar,” said Bruce.

“My first memory of him was when Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) was nicking him from Man City and he was saying we have got this young kid coming over so just be careful with him today, he is going to train with the first team. He was obviously wanting him to sign.

“He took the mickey out of Viv Anderson, the England right-back, dribbled round him three times and we were saying, ‘Who is this?’

“I just went ‘wow’. I have never seen anyone as natural. Running, dribbling, it was just effortless for him to do any running session. He would glide with the ball. He was just as quick with it as without it.

“Did he get past me? Oh yeah, very, very easily. I couldn’t have got near him to kick him.”

When asked if Giggs was as good now as when he first broke into United’s first team, Bruce did not hesitate. “Yes,” he replied.

“The one area of the pitch where you have to cover long distances and play with a high intensity is playing where he is at the moment. The word great gets used too often, but Ryan Giggs is one of those great, great players.”

Daryl Murphy is also a doubt for tomorrow but in truth the Irishman’s availability or otherwise is unlikely to have much bearing on Bruce’s selection. Lee Cattermole returns with Bruce admitting his midfielder was not fit enough to have faced Wolves last week.