Hull's Steve Bruce joins the British boys in the top flight

STEVE BRUCE is back in the Premier League and hoping to fly the flag for British bosses.

Steve Bruce's arrival to the Premier League brings the total number of British and Irish managers in the top flight to 11

The Hull manager, who takes his team to Chelsea tomorrow, was written off after being sacked by Sunderland but led the Tigers back to the big time in his first season in charge.

Bruce brings the British and Irish contingent of Premier League bosses up to 11 – over half the division. Only Manchester United’s David Moyes has had more top-flight experience among the Brits.

Bruce, who also guided Wigan and Birmingham to impressive Premier League finishes, said: “I’ve been fortunate because there’s not many British managers who have done 10 years in the Premier League. You take a big pride about that and if you’ve got anything about you, it’s where you want to be.

“I’m delighted to be back. You miss the big time”

Steve Bruce

“I’m delighted to be back. You miss the big time.

“It’s going to be remarkably difficult but I’m looking forward to it immensely. One of my coaches said there’s been a crackle about the place and he was right.”

Bruce is set to give debuts to Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore, the midfielders signed from Tottenham, the latter on loan.

Scotland keeper Allan McGregor, defenders Curtis Davies and Maynor Figueroa and forward Danny Graham are all likely to make their first league starts for the club.

History is not with Hull, who have not won on any of their 19 visits to Chelsea, over more than a century.

Spurs' Tom Huddlestone is a big arrival at Hull

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Jose Mourinho takes swipe at Chelsea's Premier League rivals

JOSE MOURINHO kicked off the Premier League mind games with a swipe at Manchester United and Manchester City - and declared he is back to win the title in style.

Jose Mourinho wants to dominate the League on his first year back

The Chelsea boss claims the Manchester duo, the past two champions, were far from brilliant and only finished top because everybody else made mistakes. He said: "A few years ago, the better teams were better. I think that.

"You think Manchester United won the Premier League last year because they were an unbelievable team? I don't think so.

"The other contenders didn't have a very good season. The same the year before when City won.

“Others made so many mistakes that City eventually won the competition”

Jose Mourinho

"Were they an extraordinary team? I don't think so. Others made so many mistakes that City eventually won the competition.

"In previous years you had a fantastic Arsenal who were champions without a single defeat. You had a Chelsea with a points record in the Premier League. You had a United side who won the title and had an unbelievable season."

Mourinho is determined to put that right by helping Chelsea storm to the title in his first season back.

"I want to attack and try to be dominant," he said.

Mourinho doesn't think Manchester United excelled last season

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Transfer Zone: Suarez says sorry, Rooney's back for Man United and Mourinho's ready to go

ALL the latest gossip from today's top transfer stories.

Luis Suarez is back in the fold at Liverpool after apologising to Liverpool

The Gossip

Luis Suarez has finally apologised to Liverpool.

Jose Mourinho kicked off the Premier League mind games with a swipe at Manchester United and Manchester City - and declared he is back to win the title in style.

Steve McManaman reckons Manchester City must be favourites for the Premier League title – because they got their business done early.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has laughed off suggestions that striker Christian Benteke could be a one-season wonder.

Wayne Rooney is expected be on the bench at Swansea today – but still wants to quit Manchester United.

Pavel Pogrebnyak has told Reading boss Nigel Adkins he wants to quit the club.

Arsene Wenger insists he hasn’t got a £70m transfer stash burning a hole in his pocket.

Andre Villas-Boas has revealed he turned down Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain to stay at Tottenham.

Monaco could be forced to sell their star player Radamel Falcao, leading Chelsea and Manchester City to renew their interest.

Tottenham are busily trying to save their bid for Croatian wonderkid Alen Halilovic.

Laurent Blanc has confirmed that Liverpool target Mamadou Sakho wants to leave PSG.

Arsenal Luiz Gustavo has revealed why he decided to stay in Germany and sign for Wolfsburg.

Could long-term Chelsea and Manchester City target Radamel Falcao be set for an early exit from Monaco?

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Gianfranco Zola wants Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham target Troy Deeney to stay at Watford

GIANFRANCO ZOLA believes Troy Deeney will remain at Watford despite interest in the striker from Tottenham, West Ham and Fulham.

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By Nick Lustig/Published 17th August 2013

Deeney has started the season in fine form

Deeney, who scored 20 times for the Hornets last season, has begun the new campaign in explosive form netting a hat-trick last week in the 6-1 demolition of Bournemouth.

However the Watford boss is confident that the striker will stay at the club and insisted no bids have been made from the Premier League.

"There have been no bids as far as I know," Zola told the Watford Observer.

Deeney is attracting the interest of a number of Premier League clubs

The striker netted a hat-trick last week to add to his opening day winner at Birmingham

“He is a player who is doing well and there probably is interest in him”

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola

"I understand there will be speculation because he is a player who is doing well and there probably is interest in him.

"It is natural but I haven't heard any more than the rumours I have read in newspapers.

"As manager, I would of course like him to stay but should there be a bid, I'm sure there will be other things to consider. At the moment, it is difficult to comment.

"He is an important player in the team and I would like to keep him with us but we need to wait and see what happens."

Villas-Boas is weighing up a bid for the Championship striker

Jol is also looking at Deeney

As is West Ham manager Sam Allardyce

Deeney, who signed a new three-year deal at Vicarage Road in March, was watched last weekend by scouts from both Fulham and West Ham.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is currently weighing up a bid for the 25-year-old as he looks to add to his attacking options.

Villas-Boas broke the club's transfer record earlier this month with the £26m signing of Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.

Deeney has been identified as a possible replacement for Jermain Defoe, whose future at White Hart Lane remains uncertain with QPR boss Harry Redknapp keen to acquire the forward.

Defoe's future at White Hart Lane is uncertain

Redknapp wants to link up with the striker for the fourth time

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Man Utd decline chance to join race to sign Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City target Willian

MANCHESTER UNITED have turned down the chance to join the race to sign Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City target Willian from Anzhi.

Willian is not a target for Manchester United

The Brazilian is free to leave the Russian club as they look to ease their financial crisis with stars Samuel Eto'o and Chris Samba also available for transfer.

However David Moyes is not interested in the attacking midfielder as he continues to pursue his aim of bringing a controlling midfielder to Old Trafford.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keeping tight-lipped about the possible arrival of the 25-year-old, who this week spoke of his interest of joining the Merseysiders.

Willian is attracting huge interest from the Premier League

“If it's really Liverpool, then it is surely a great club”

Willian

"England is my goal. I like the Premier League very much," he told ESPN Brazil.

"I enjoy the English football and certainly, if that happens, it will be very good for me and for my image.

"There was the Manchester City bid that was turned down. Now I'm waiting for a new bid to arrive in the next days from a few clubs, like Liverpool.

"If it's really Liverpool, then it is surely a great club.

"I'm hopeful and very calm, just waiting for the best."

Moyes is looking at other options to bolster his squad

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I'm so sorry! Luis Suarez back in Liverpool fold after his apology

LUIS Suarez has finally apologised to Liverpool.

Luis Suarez trained with the Liverpool squad, despite being banned from their season opener

As a result, he was allowed to train with the first team yesterday after previously being banished to the reserves when he went public about his desire to leave the club.

The striker rejoined the rest of the squad ahead of today's Premier League opener at home to Stoke.

That is one of six games Suarez will miss as part of his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea ace Branislav Ivanovic.

The 26-year-old made it clear throughout the summer that he wanted to leave Liverpool, but, with the club rejecting two bids from Arsenal, he has now performed a U-turn.

The £50m-rated Uruguay marksman started back-pedalling earlier this week while on international duty in Japan, claiming he now wanted to remain at Anfield.

And he was laughing and joking with his Liverpool team-mates while training at Melwood yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Reds will reignite their bid to sign Schalke centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos before the transfer window closes on September 2. Boss Brendan Rodgers is a huge fan of the Greek star, although the Reds have been reluctant to pay the £13m Schalke wanted.

Brendan Rodgers is keen to snap up Greek star Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Sources close to Papadopoulos, 21, claim he is keen to leave the Bundesliga for Anfield, while Schalke have indicated they are now willing to thrash out a deal. Rodgers has already snapped up veteran Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City to replace retired Jamie Carragher.

And Liverpool yesterday agreed in principle to sign Valencia's Aly Cissokho on loan for the season, with a view to a permanent deal.

But Rodgers says he is keen to further strengthen the Liverpool backline before the window shuts, with Papadopoulos top of his list.

"It would be nice to get in another defender, but it has to be the right one," Rodgers said. "We've worked hard to try to get one or two players in. It hasn't quite materialised.

“Do we need to strengthen defensively? Only if the right player is available”

Brendan Rodgers

"But we are confident, in the next couple of weeks, we can add to the team. If we do, we're going to be in a good position.

"Do we need to strengthen defensively? Only if the right player is available. That player hasn't been yet."

Liverpool are set to start with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel in central defence for the Premier League lunchtime opener against Stoke after they shook off knee injuries.

A year into the job, Rodgers also accepts fans expect the club to challenge for a top-four finish. "The measure will always be the Champions League and the big European competitions," he added.

"There will be calls for us to improve every year but that's not new, not unexpected. It's what you expect at a big club. We want to make improvements and believe we will."

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Workers who face sack for taking toilet break start wearing NAPPIES

WORKERS have started wearing nappies to avoid facing the sack for nipping off for a quick toilet break.

Workers claim they are wearing nappies to avoid popping to the loo

Trade unions in Honduras, South America, claim staff at a safety harness factory are being bullied by bosses, with workers now taking the drastic step to avoid getting on their wrong side.

Former employee at Korean-owned Kyungshin Lear, Maria Galeano, said: "It's embarrassing to say you wear diapers."

“It's embarrassing to say you wear diapers”

Former employee Maria Galeano

The company has denied the claims, saying: "The allegations are false and reckless."

And Daniel Facusse, of the Honduran Manufacturers Association, said: "This is a falsehood by workers manipulated by the interference of unions in the US, who want to regain jobs lost in the country."

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