Source: PA
Bruce urges patience
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has urged people to be patient with England's youngsters after a tough baptism at international level in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by France.
Black Cats midfielder Jordan Henderson, 20, and Newcastle striker Andy Carroll, 21, both made their debuts at Wembley while 21-year-old Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs was handed a first start.
Much was made of the arrival of the new generation but the post-match reaction will have made difficult reading after England were outplayed by the French, particularly in the opening stages, and left the pitch to boos both at half-time and full-time.
Bruce, though, believes the youngsters must be given time to develop and has called on the public and the media not to write them off too soon.
He said of Henderson: "It was fantastic to see him in an England shirt and I'm sure he enjoyed it. The team struggled against France and the kid did okay. He did as well as anyone else on the night as far as I'm concerned.
"It was a tough one for him and maybe we had a little bit too much inexperience and that showed a little bit against a very, very good French team. But he'll learn from it - he's a wonderful talent."
