Monday 9 February 2015 11:28, UK
Steve Bruce feels his ability to bring in Mike Phelan as assistant manager proves his job is secure at Hull City.
Phelan was appointed at the KC Stadium this week as a replacement for Steve Agnew, who joined Middlesbrough on December 23.
The coach had previously been at Norwich – where he played alongside Bruce from 1985-87– and prior to that had spent more than four years as second-in-command to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Bruce says the fact he has been allowed to recruit Phelan, and Senegalese striker Dame N’Doye on transfer deadline day, illustrates the faith Hull still have in him.
“I’ve known Mike a long, long time, I played with him at Norwich a long time ago,” he said. “Then of course we were at Manchester United together and it’s come at just the right time.
“He’ll bring us that valuable experience that he’s got. He’s got a good way about him, he’s a good coach and of course he’s been assistant boss to the best manager we’ve ever come across.
“It’s the right time for him to come in, he’s a new voice on the training ground, will bring some new ideas and I’m pleased to be working with him.
“The chairman has backed me with a new centre-forward and a new assistant so I think if he was going to get rid of me, he’d have done it before I got them in.”
Bruce admits is "very unlikely" N'Doye will be in a position to make his debut against Manchester City on Saturday as he remains in Paris while officials seek to sort out his work permit and international clearance.
But as his injury problems continue to ease, Bruce can see no reason why his new signing should not spearhead a return to the Tigers' early season form.
"He (N'Doye) is big, strong and physically powerful. I watched him a lot in Copenhagen a few years ago but we couldn't get into the country because of his work permit," Bruce said.
"His goalscoring record is very impressive and the big question is if he can come and adapt to the Premier League. Certainly his goalscoring record in Copenhagen and Moscow is terrific."
City will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle when they take on the champions.
Bruce said: "We've got to get over the disappointment of last week and eradicate those silly little errors.
"We have got to roll our sleeves up and show that bit of form and there is no better game for us to go and play.
"I hope we can have a response from everybody because what we witnessed in the second half last week was simply not good enough, and we all understand and realise we are better than that."
