Pally tipping pal for national job

Oct 9 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

STEVE Bruce has been tipped as a future England manager by his former central defensive partner Gary Pallister.

Two of the last three England bosses have been foreigners and although the man who served between Sven-Göran Eriksson and current incumbent Fabio Capello – Steve McClaren – did little to further the cause of home-grown managers, the desire for a native to lead the Three Lions remains strong.

Like McClaren, the Sunderland boss never played international football, but he is earning a reputation as perhaps the most talented of the increasingly rare breed of top-flight English managers. Former Middlesbrough defender Pallister (pictured left), who formed a formidable defensive partnership with Bruce at Manchester United, believes his old team-mate could comfortably transfer his skills to the international arena.

“Steve is doing a tremendous job at the moment and he has a wealth of experience behind him already,” he said.

“In my opinion he is the right man at the right club but I would like to see him being given a chance to manage at international level for England in the not too distant future.”