Source: Telegraph
Sports Personality winner Ryan Giggs hailed as the 'complete package' by Steve Bruce
Bruce, who sparked a period of unprecedented success at Manchester United alongside Giggs in the mid-90s, said he was delighted that 36-year-old Wales international received the accolade. [LNB]"I was switching over, as probably we all were, because I wasn't in control of the buttons last night," Bruce said. [LNB] Related ArticlesSports Personality of the YearRyan Giggs's gong shows how far F1 has fallenRyan Giggs to get new United contractGiggs named BBC Sports Personality of the YearDanny Welbeck signs new deal at Manchester UnitedSir Alex Ferguson denies Sol Campbell links"The X-Factor was in charge in my house, that's for sure. [LNB]"I'm absolutely delighted for him. I played in his debut and I remember when he was a 14-year-old taking the mickey out of Viv Anderson, who was then England's right-back. [LNB]"He was fantastic. His debut was something like 20 years ago and he scored against Manchester City. What he's done - 11 Premier Leagues, is it? - it's frightening, the way he looks after himself. He's the total package. [LNB]"He has natural born ability and combined with that is steely determination. And to go on and do what he has done for 20 years is an unbelievable achievement at one club like Man United. it's fantastic. [LNB]"I'm delighted for the lad, it's fantastic - and also I'm delighted for the sand dancer from South Shields," added Bruce, referring to X-Factor winner Joe McElderry. [LNB]Bruce was speaking ahead of Sunderland's match with Aston Villa on Tuesday night when his team will aim to arrest a run of three games without a win since their 1-0 defeat of Arsenal. [LNB]Bruce's mood has been lifted by the return to training of combative midfielder Lee Cattermole following a knee injury and he could return to first-team action at Manchester City on Saturday. [LNB]Bruce added: "The good news for is that two of suspensions are over and the good news if you are a Sunderland fans I suppose is that Lee Cattermole has trained over the last two days with the first-team squad. When everyone was down in the dumps he was he shining light because he was delighted to be back in amongst it. [LNB]"If he trains well today then he could play 45 minutes against Hartlepool in the reserves on Wednesday and if he comes through that he will be in contention. I was asked whether we would miss him and it is unfair to talk about just one player but we haven't looked quite the same without his competitive skills that he has in abundance. [LNB]"We have missed him, it is quite simple. It is fairly evident that the boy has had such an impact on the team that it is good to see him in and around it. That is the one area that we are short of numbers but that is the way I wanted it to be. The one thing you don't want is big serious injuries. [LNB]"I have to be careful; yesterday I was trying to put the reins on him in training. He lit up the session and did the same for the reserve team manager on Saturday when he trained. He just has that infectious enthusiasm. [LNB]"He just wants to play football. I predicted he would back after 12 weeks but it was eight weeks on Saturday. I have to be careful that I do not rush the kid too much because he is desperate to play." [LNB]He will be pitting his wits against Villa manager Martin O'Neil whose side beat United 1-0 last weekend. [LNB]"I have never seen the so-called top teams lose so many games at this stage of the season," Bruce added. [LNB]"We are five points away from Europe and if or six points away from the relegation area. It is that sort of season. It is great for the neutral and it unbelievable how it is panning out and but it is quite strange that only one team won at home in the Premier League at the weekend which is quite remarkable." [LNB]
