‘I’m here to help everyone’ - Brunt

Monday, September 7th 2020

Chris Brunt believes he can pass on his footballing experience to help the City squad develop over the coming season.

Brunt, who arrives with Premier League experience after three promotions with West Brom, says he can be a positive influence on his new Robins teammates.

“I’m delighted to be here, hopefully get a good bit of training under my belt this week and hit the ground running on Saturday,” he said in his first club interview.

Brunt, a central midfielder, has been in the game since turning professional with Middlesbrough in 2002. He spent a few years with Sheffield Wednesday before joining West Brom in 2007 where he would spend the next 13 seasons.

Watch: The full interview

Brunt’s experience, therefore, was a big talking point. He continued: “That’ll be the main thing, my experience, I’ve played a lot of football over the last 15 years or so! It’s a young, enthusiastic squad so hopefully I can help a few of them along as well. The manager has been great with me, getting me down to look around and I’m delighted I did.”

The 35-year-old arrives in BS3 as a free agent after leaving the Hawthorns this summer, off the back of West Brom’s return to the Premier League.

He said: “The biggest wrench was leaving the staff and everyone I knew. Players come and go but being there so long you get attached to the place and the people. It was difficult but I knew last season it would be my last because I hadn’t played much.

“No matter how old you get you still think you can play 46 games a season. I’m not daft, I’m probably not capable of that at my age but I didn’t play as much as I wanted, so if I can get a good couple of weeks training in, hit the ground running and play more games this season.

“It’s a different challenge now. My challenge at West Brom was about trying to stay in the Premier League for all of those years. That was tough and when we got relegated the challenge was about trying to get back. I was glad I left West Brom on that high but this club (Bristol City) has been there or thereabouts in recent seasons but tailed off at the end. The manager speaks about it, the lads want to do it, it’s a great experience to get to the promised land and that’s what I’m here to do.”