Sheffield United: Why Steve Bruce owes a debt of gratitude to Blades as Newcastle United boss prepares to return to Bramall Lane

The former Manchester United defender cut his managerial teeth with the Blades, initially as player/manager before becoming exasperated with United’s boardroom struggles at the time and handing in his resignation.

Bruce later won four promotions as a manager and also took Hull City to the 2014 FA Cup final, before landing the Sheffield Wednesday job. After around six months at Hillsborough Bruce walked out on the Owls, to take charge of his boyhood club Newcastle.

Despite some initial scepticism following his appontment, Bruce has guided the Magpies to 14th in the table and four points above the drop zone.

And, in an interview with The Athletic, Bruce revealed the debt he owes to the Blades as he prepares to return to Bramall Lane.

“Sheffield United gave me a real crash course into the demands of the job,” he said.

“I will always be grateful for the club giving me a chance. That is what you need when starting out, someone to give you a break. Mine came at Sheffield United, even if by the time I had finished both there and at my second job in Huddersfield I was genuinely wondering if management was for me.

“It was a tough time. Put it this way, it opened my eyes to what the job can be like. There was all sorts going on above me with several chief executives coming and going. That is never healthy.

“A bit like now, I suppose, with what has been going on with the ownership. That is why Chris [Wilder] deserves all the praise in the world for the job he has done.”

Wilder actually played under Bruce during his short spell in charge, and the two have remained close.

“The thing with management is you learn on the job. And I certainly had to learn fast at Sheffield,” Bruce added.

“It was a chaotic time and I was right in the middle of things. I had to grow up very quickly. It didn’t matter a jot if I was Steve Bruce, the ex-captain of Manchester United, or Billy Bloggs from Alfreton Town.

“The thing about upheaval above you at a club is it can undermine the manager. If that happens, the players have an excuse.

“A total eye-opener for me in management and a big learning curve. But one I am eternally grateful to have had.”