Bardo: Trust In Bruce

Bardsley has a lot of thanks and respect for Steve Bruce as he managed to find a slot in the starting eleven and repaid him with excellent performances.

Bardo, who is now a Scotland regular, also won the players and fans player of the year awards at the Stadium of Light this week.

Bruce has came under a lot of pressure from the fans after such a bright start flickered away with a massive injury list the main reason behind our drop in form.

‘He has had some stick but he has done a great job,” the 25-year-old said.

“He has had to call on young lads and young Jack [Colback] made the central midfield role his own position and he has probably been our best player, so it is not all doom and gloom but you still want everyone fit.

“He is the perfect manager, a great manager. He has bundles of respect for the players and the players respect him for what he has done in the game.

“The last few months have been difficult and have not worked out as he would have wanted or planned but he has dug in and made sure the players have done the same.“ He added: “I think he has done a brilliant job and we can only get better in the coming seasons.

“The manager, Eric Black and the staff have been affected in terms of what they want to do in training and just getting the right numbers to train but hopefully we can have a right good go again next season.

“I know it is good to bring young lads in and give them a chance but we want the team or the squad with everyone in it and everyone wanting to play and the last few months it has hit us badly.”