Former Premier League manager Lawrie Sanchez has exclusively told Football FanCast that he's surprised Steve Bruce has never been given the opportunity to manage Manchester United.

The 60-year-old is approaching 1000 games in management in England during a career that spans over four decades.

Bruce has won promotion to the Premier League on numerous occasions, taken Hull to an FA Cup final and last month won his first ever Manager of the Month award in the top-flight.

But despite a glistening managerial career, Bruce has never been in the running to manage the Red Devils.

Bruce won 12 major trophies with United during his playing career, including three FA Cups, and was part of the side that won the first ever Premier League crown back in 1993.

And given that he was a popular face with the United faithful, Sanchez told Football FanCast that he's surprised Bruce has never managed the club:

"You forget what an influential figure he was at United. Him coming to United probably won them the league. Him and Pallister as centre-halves were the final piece of the jigsaw.

"As much as people write about Cantona and Schmeichel, but for Bruce and Pallister they wouldn’t have won the league.

"I am surprised that Bruce, who has so many games under his belt, wasn’t given a chance at the United job."