Bruce tells of moment at Man Utd he told Fergie to 'p*** off' after being snubbed

Steve Bruce told how he left Manchester United in a huff after being snubbed by Alex Ferguson for FA Cup final in 1996.

The centre-half was a key player for Ferguson in the early years of his reign and played a big part in helping United to win their first Premier League trophy in 1993 with two late headers to help them beat Sheffield Wednesday.

He provided a solid partnership alongside Gary Pallister and also got forward to score important goals including from the penalty spot.

But Bruce has shared how Ferguson as manager was not sentimental and ruthlessly left him out of the FA Cup final in 1996 as he returned from injury.

He explained how David May had come into the side with Bruce suffering a hamstring strain, but having recovered he wasn't even given a place on the bench.

I left Man United in a huff because he left me out the cup final in '96. You know the one where Cantona scored the winner against Liverpool," Bruce told The Good, The Bad and The Football. "I didn't expect to be back in, but I thought I'd be on the bench."

At the time Bruce was aged 36 and coming to the end of his career.

"Maysey had come in for the last month and did well and scored," said Bruce. "I had a hamstring, I never had a hamstring but I nicked a hamstring in the last month of the season, and Maysey had come in and did well.

"I didn't expect to be back in but I expected to be on the bench - back in the day I think there were three (substitutes).

"You know what he said to me, he said 'I'm not gonna put you on the bench I'm gonna bring in Sharpy (Lee Sharpe). And Sharpy had been out of the equation for weeks and months

"I said Sharpy. He said 'yeah in case something happens to Schmeichel he can put the gloves on'. This was on the pitch at Wembley, I said p*** off."