Bruce hopes his young guns go for it

STEVE BRUCE is keeping his fingers crossed that Jordan Henderson and David Meyler can do for Sunderland what Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have done for Manchester United.

The four men could find themselves in direct opposition at the Stadium of Light on Sunday as the much-decorated United duo attempt to keep alive their dreams of adding another Barclays Premier League winners’ medal to their impressive hauls.

Giggs and Scholes, along with David Beckham, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, have formed the basis of successive teams at Old Trafford for a generation after emerging from the youth set-up to drive forward Alex Ferguson’s domination of English football.

Bruce, who witnessed their introduction first hand as one of Ferguson’s keystones, is well placed to judge their contribution to a procession of trophies, and is hoping his talented youngsters can help signal a new phase in Sunderland’s development.

Asked if Henderson and Meyler, who signed new five-year contracts last weekend after forcing their way into the first team this season, could save him millions of pounds, Bruce replied: “They already have done, especially Jordan.

“Jordan and David Meyler have got big futures here – that’s why we have rewarded them both with five-year contracts.

“Martyn Waghorn and Jack Colback coming back from loan spells at Leicester and Ipswich respectively – can they go and do what those two have done? There’s nothing better for any manager, even if you are manager of Manchester United, if you have a group of young players coming through together. They have got an outstanding chance.”

Nineteen-year-old Henderson in particular has made a huge impression this season, and has been named the club’s official and the fans’ Young Player of the Year.

Bruce said: “Jordan has had a wonderful season and has rightly been chosen as Young Player of the Year.

“He’s had a fantastic first full season, and I think that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what he is going to achieve because I do believe, if he keeps his feet on the ground, we have got a very, very good player in the making.”