Steve Bruce hails ‘best English keeper’

Nov 27 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

HE may have conceded nine goals in his last appearance, but Sunderland have been warned they will have to beat the best goalkeeper in England if they are to build on last week’s win over Arsenal.

Chris Kirkland became one of only two goalkeepers to ship nine goals in a Premier League match (Ipswich Town’s Craig Forrest was the other) when his Wigan Athletic side were hammered at Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

But Kirkland’s former Latics manager Steve Bruce still sees the former Liverpool stopper as the best in his position this country has, irrespective of an injury record which threatens to leave him as a one-cap wonder. The ex-Manchester United defender even went as far as to mention the 28-year-old in the same breath as his former team-mate Peter Schmeichel.

“Chris Kirkland, for me, would be England’s number one goalkeeper,” commented Bruce, who takes his Sunderland team to Wigan tomorrow. “He is a fantastic goalkeeper who has unfortunately got a problem with his back. When he’s fit and when he’s playing for me he is the best goalkeeper in England, without question.

“I’ve had the privilege to work alongside a great one in Schmeichel. He is right up there. I rated him that highly when I was there. He was a great goalkeeper who has been unfortunate with injury. If it wasn’t for that he’d have a stackful of caps right now and be a certainty for the World Cup.”

Incredible though it may sound, Wigan were fortunate only to lose 9-1 to Spurs at the weekend, Kirkland pulling off a number of impressive saves. It is something which has not escaped Bruce’s attention during his homework for this weekend’s game against the club he left in the summer.