Report: Hull boss Bruce holds talks over England job

London - Steve Bruce is definitely a runner in the race to be England football manager as several media outlets reported Tuesday the Hull City handler had held talks with the Football Association.

The 55-year-old Englishman - who like older compatriot and rival Sam Allardyce has yet to win any silverware during a long time in club management - said prior to the talks he thought the job should go to a homegrown talent.

"I think the top of the FA in my opinion should be English. I've always said that, there's nobody more patriotic than I am," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I'm honoured to be linked with it. It's the pinnacle to go and manage your country. What bigger job in the world is there?" added Bruce, who has also managed among other clubs Wigan and Sunderland.

Bruce, who enjoyed a successful playing career captaining Manchester United although he was never capped, and Sunderland boss Allardyce are thought to be on a four man short list also comprising young Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe and the charismatic United States gaffer and former German striker Jurgen Klinsmann.

Related: Sam Allardyce contacted by FA, reportedly interviewed for England manager

The three man FA panel - which is made up of former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, FA technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn - are seeking to find a successor to Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson stepped down after England's latest failure at a major finals, losing 2-1 to minnow Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016.

England has failed to make it past the first knockout stage of a major finals since Sven-Goran Eriksson guided it to the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals where it lost on penalties to Portugal.