The Sheffield Wednesday midfielder says his mum comes to all of his matches.
Barry Bannan has recalled how Steve Bruce was accosted by the midfielder’s mother just two days into his tenure as Sheffield Wednesday manager.
In an interview with Open Goal – recorded at the start of this month and broadcast on Monday evening – Bannan revealed she has a history of pulling up her son’s bosses.
“She’s done it to the new gaffer here,” explained the Sheffield Wednesday number 10. “He was only in the door two days. I was in getting a strap. I think I was touch and go whether I could play but I wasn’t letting the club know. I told my maw that I’m struggling but I’m going to play.
“So the gaffer’s walking past her, his first game in charge (against Ipswich), she’s shouting: ‘Steve, Steve’. So he spins around and she’s like, ‘Is he playing?’ to Steve Bruce – he’s won the (Premier) League and that.
“He’s like, ‘Who are you talking about?’
“She went, ‘My son. I’m Barry’s mum.’
“And he’s like, ‘Yeah, why wouldn’t he?’
“‘Oh, he’s been injured, he’s been telling me he’s struggling.’
“So he’s come and I’m just sitting, getting treatment. He’s like, ‘Is that your maw? I’ve just met your maw I think.’
“And I was like, ‘was she swearing?’
“He was like, ‘Aye.’
“I was like, ‘Aye, that’s my maw then.’”
Bruce has won seven and drew eight of his 18 games in charge of Sheffield Wednesday to give the Owls hope of achieving an unlikely top-six finish this past campaign.
But while Championship football beckons next term, Bannan is hopeful the 58-year-old’s arrival will catalyse the famous old club’s return to the Premier League.
“I hope so, aye,” replied the Scotland international. “He’s probably just come in a month too late. We’ve just ran out of games. Probably four or five more games and I think we’d have had a right chance.
“It was only until the weekend (against Preston) that we mathematically couldn’t make it. I think we were three points away from having a chance. I think we’ve only lost twice in 19 games since he’s been in. And his pedigree in this league’s brilliant. So I think we’ve got the right man for the job.
“(Sheffield Wednesday can) definitely (gain promotion next season), aye. I think there’s a lot of players leaving in the summer, out of contract, and there’ll be new people coming in. I think like, we touched on there with this gaffer, he knows everything about the league and he’ll have players that he wants to bring in and get out and stuff, so I think we’ll be even better next year.”
Meanwhile, both Bannan and his Sheffield Wednesday teammate, Steven Fletcher, have been left out of Steve Clarke’s maiden Scotland squad.
But another Owls player, Liam Palmer, has made the cut despite a disappointing debut earlier this year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
