Manchester United legend backs Wayne Rooney after difficult Birmingham City start

Manchester United legend and ex-Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has backed Wayne Rooney to turn the corner at St Andrews after a difficult start.

Rooney was controversially hired after previous boss John Eustace was sacked with the Blues in the promotion conversation. Since then, the West Midlands club have slipped and are winless in the 38-year-old's opening five matches in charge.

Prior to the international break, Birmingham lost 3-1 at Sunderland and slipped to 18th, just eight points above the relegation zone. On Saturday they welcome struggling Sheffield Wednesday and Bruce is hopeful Rooney will be given the time to turn the ship around.

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He told Gambling Zone: "Wayne has to put his stamp on it - he's already changed their playing philosophy and that's his prerogative. The most important thing a manager needs is time. Let him implement what he's doing.

"He hasn't had the best start, but he's proven what he can do at Derby. He plays a certain way, and that takes [time] getting used to. Let's get behind him and wish him the best of luck."

Bruce is hopeful his former club can turn a corner under Rooney and NFL icon Tom Brady who has invested in the West Midlands side. He added: "The club has been in a dark place ever since David Sullivan left. I think David left around ten years ago, and there's been no real stability at the top.

"I would assume, and hope, that Tom Brady and the American investors bring in a bit of stability. They wanted to bring in a new manager and they've done that with Wayne Rooney. There's no bigger box office name than him.

"You'd expect Birmingham to do good things