Steve Bruce: I want to win cup as boss

Oct 27 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

“Winning trophies keeps people in jobs. But the big pressure on managers is staying in the Premier League, that affects the income streams more than a cup. It's a fine balance, I can understand if a manager may not got hell for leather to win a cup.

“As a manager I have never been remotely close to winning a trophy and I've got to go for it while I am here.”

Bent's absence tonight will be a blow but the suggestion he may not be fit to face West Ham at the weekend is far more worrying.

The 25-year-old was inches away from extending his scoring run to six consecutive games at Birmingham – only Fernando Torres has more Premier League goals this season.

“Benty's got a sore knee so I can't risk him,” Bruce explained. “He's had a bad knock. It wobbled his knee a bit and gave him a fright. It was close to being serious but I don't think it is. It's not ligaments, he sort of twisted it and jolted his knee.

“I would have played (John) Mensah but he's come back maybe too quickly and had a setback with his calf injury. I can't see Bardsley recovering from his shoulder problem.

“I've just given Nyron a new deal and he comes into my thinking. Against Aston Villa physically we are going to have to stand up and be counted and Nyron comes into the equation.”