Bruce: McManaman's told me he doesn't want my job

Former England player McManaman is a director of Yeung's company Grandtop International which is expected to buy City by the new year.

McManaman has been the subject of speculation linking him with replacing Bruce, whose new contract has not been approved by Yeung.

But the ex-Liverpool star telephoned Bruce this week to assure him he is not someone waiting to fill his shoes if he leaves St Andrews.

Bruce said: "I had a conversation with Steve McManaman this week. It was very amicable, no problems at all.

"I've got no problem with Steve. A big thing has been made of it in the media - but not by me.

"Things went okay when we spoke. I didn't ask him what his role would be if the takeover of Birmingham is completed by Mr Yeung.

"But he made it plain to me he is not interested in the managerial side at Birmingham. He said that to me this week."

Bruce insisted he is concentrating on team affairs ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League game with Manchester City at Eastlands.

He said: "I've tried not to let what is happening affect me. The last couple of weeks seems to be all about me and I don't like that. I'm bored and fed up with it.

"The most important thing for me is which way the club is going to go. I want what is best for Birmingham. When there is instability at the top, it filters through."

Bruce is now hoping to meet Yeung next weekend after his advisors told him the Hong Kong businessman will not be making the trip to see the game with Sven-Goran Eriksson's side.

Eriksson has performed wonders at City and Bruce believes that the record of the Swede when England boss was not as bad as portrayed in some quarters.

He said: "If you look at it, Sven lost one qualifier in three tournaments, against Northern Ireland. He got England to three quarter finals and two of them were only lost on penalties.

"When he got the job everyone thought he was the best man to do it because of his record at club level in Europe. When you look at his record with England, it is not horrific.

"He was much maligned, something that is part and parcel of the job, and I am not surprised how well he has done at Manchester City.

"He has bought extremely well. He knows what he is doing and some of the players he has bought have enhanced the Premier League again."

Bruce knows that his side will have to be at their best if they are to obtain any tangible reward from the weekend.

He said: "We turned in excellent performances at Chelsea and Liverpool and we have got to make sure that we do the same again if we are to have any chance of getting anything at City.

"We have to play to our potential, play to our maximum. If we do that we have a chance. Anything less and we will be struggling.

"We have made a solid start and are at the top of the little group of teams in our part of the Premier League. The aim is for us to stay there and where we are at the moment, I would take at the end of the season.

"But we all know there is still a lot of football to be played, still another six or seven months to go before anything is decided."

Bruce has one fresh injury doubt with Johan Djourou picking up a hamstring injury while on duty for Switzerland against the United States in midweek.

Skipper Damien Johnson has had a series of injections to try and solve his hamstring problem but is unlikely to be in contention this weekend.