Hard work is Alex’s secret, insists Bruce

STEVE BRUCE will return to Manchester United today eternally grateful for the biggest lesson Alex Ferguson ever taught him.

Sunderland boss Bruce saw at close hand how the Scot went about his job during his eight and a half years at Old Trafford, a spell which brought three Premier League titles, two FA Cup and League Cup winners’ medals and European Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup success.

And the one thing he learnt above all from Ferguson is that, in management, nothing can be achieved without sheer hard graft.