Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is considering calling up Steve Bruce as emergency back-up as defensive injuries threaten to derail the Red Devils’ season.
Lisandro Martinez was stretchered off in Thursday night’s 2-2 draw against Sevilla and his centre-half partner Raphael Varane is also a doubt for next week’s return leg.
The Dutch tactician told our source in the north west that:
“I cannot take any more risks. It took me an hour to convince Harry he’d scored in the wrong net on Thursday night and that has left me with no option but to pick up the phone and speak to Brucie.”
Bruce skippered United to their first two Premier League titles and the amiable Geordie is understood to be excited at the prospect of returning to help his former employer.
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“I’ll be honest” he told Paddy Power News, “I was surprised as anyone when the phone rang on Thursday night, but the gaffer convinced me that I could still do a job and that he had found an XXXXXL shirt in the megastore that I could wear.”
Bruce went on to explain about his strict training regime as he now attempts to prove his fitness in the hope of being included in Sunday’s squad to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
“I’ve been in the steam room for 12 hours straight since getting the call and I’m now down to 20 stone” he explained, “I’ve not eaten a curry for over three hours and I’m feeling great and ready to go.
“If the gaffer decides he wants me I’m only another phone call away.”
Paddy Power News can also reveal that its not only Bruce who is on ten Hag’s radar, a club source declaring that:
“The boss has been on his mobile most of the day and he is also considering making a move for Brucie’s old centre-half partner Gary Pallister.
The former England defender formed a decent partnership with Bruce in the early to mid-90’s and they could be in for a shock reunion in the heart of the United defence.
“He was over at Carrington the other week and he still looks in tip top condition,” another club insider told us, “In fact he joined in one of the training sessions while Fred looked for his ball in the bushes after a mis-placed pass.”
*Paddy Power’s football coverage is 100% fake news. Honest.
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