Stick To Cricket: Special guest Steve Bruce on Man Utd, England's World Cup chances and more

Betfair and The Overlap proudly present "Stick to Cricket," a captivating show featuring renowned England cricket legends Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, David 'Bumble' Lloyd, and Phil 'Tuffers' Tufnell.

The weekly show offers insights and discussions, with special guests joining the cricket icons to delve into the sport's hottest topics.

This week the panel is joined by Manchester United legend Steve Bruce who discusses his career in football, what it was like to work with Sir Alex Ferguson and Eric Cantona, and much more.

Watch the latest episode of Stick To Cricket now!

I'd take a job in international management 

I honestly believe that I've had my time in club management now. I thoroughly enjoyed it but there comes a time when you have to call it.  

You never say never; maybe something like an international job would draw me back in. I had a conversation with Ireland a few years ago, and would you believe, before Steve McClaren got the job, I had a chat with the Jamaican FA. 

I got Fergie hair-dryer treatment constantly 

I constantly got the hair dryer treatment from Fergie. Big Pally (Gary Pallister) got it as well more than anybody because he was laid back and horizontal really at times. In training, he never really pushed himself, just got through it. But when Saturday came if you could get Pally wound up a little bit, he was a great asset.  

Fergie tested you to the limit. If you couldn't deal with him, then you were no good to him. He enjoyed people coming back at him. 

Sir Alex blocked me playing for Ireland 

I never got in an England squad. In 1995, Bryan Robson was assistant to Terry Venables and they rang me. We were playing Nigeria in a friendly at the end of the season, and Bryan rang me saying: 'I've had a word with Terry.'  

I said: 'Bryan, thanks, but I just don't want it as a sympathy cap. I don't want a sympathy vote.' So, I said no to it. In '94, I had a bigger chance to play for Ireland. Big Jack Charlton got wind that my mother was Irish, and I said I would go and play for them but then Fergie put the block on it because it would have meant I was classed as a foreign player for United under the rules back then. 

Give Carrick permanent Man Utd job

I sincerely hope Michael Carrick gets the Manchester United job. Why not? He's certainly put himself in pole position.

He gets the club; he understands the club because he's been there and played for it. So, I hope he does get it permanently next season. Why not? 

Maverick Cantona was one of the best

I think I played with the ultimate maverick in Eric Cantona. Cantona was totally different off the pitch, but the way he trained and the way he played, he was exemplary.  

If you're a maverick, you have to be very, very good at football to compensate that. You have to be the best and if you're the best, like he was... I've never seen anyone walk into Old Trafford, put their collar up and say, 'this is my stage' and he did it week-in-week-out. 

When he jumped in the crowd, I was suspended, so I wasn't actually there. He gets sent to prison; he gets out on appeal and had to do 100 hours of community service working in Salford. 

He ended up working in a jumble sale shop. He comes in the next morning, very quiet by nature, and says to me: 'Steve, I should have gone to f***ing prison. I can't do 100 hours in this shop.'  

He was banned for nine months. If he wasn't banned, we would have won the double in '95. We'd done it in '94, and we would have done it again in '95 if he had been around. 

I worry England stars will be tired at World Cup

England must have a chance of winning the World Cup because of the personnel we've got.  

I just have this thing about all the lads who play in the Premier League. They've played so much football that when it comes down to it, you just hope they're fresh enough. The Premier League is so demanding, especially for the top lads; they never stop playing.  

They play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. The public thinks they should be fine, but after the season, they're exhausted. They've played 60 or 70 games, and then you've got to get ready and prepared for the biggest tournament of all.  

But we've definitely got a chance with the team we have.

Now read more Cricket tips and previews here