Bruce blasts 'bad boy' Pennant

Thursday, 02, Mar 2006 09:30

Steve Bruce has told Jermaine Pennant to change his attitude after he was involved in a nightclub brawl.

The Birmingham boss warned the England under-21 winger that he will waste his massive potential unless he stops getting involved in controversial off-field scrapes.

No charges were brought against the player over the incident early on Wednesday morning and after being spoken to by police, he was allowed to return home.

Bruce said: "If he doesn't sort out his personal life he's always going to be associated with a bad boy reputation. I've been at this club for four years and I've never had a problem with any player until Jermaine came along.

"I knew when I got the telephone call who it would be about. But I will continue to go into bat for him because I'm determined he won't throw away the talent that he's got."

The incident is the latest in a long line of misdemeanours by the talented but ill-disciplined winger, who was tipped to be a future England star after moving from Notts County to Arsenal at the age of 15.

Last year, Pennant was jailed for a month after being found guilty of drink-driving offences, an incident which ultimately led Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to lose patience with his errant star.

He also incurred the wrath of Blues boss Bruce after turning up drunk for training last November, following City's 1-0 defeat to Everton.