Another fine performance on Saturday against Sunderland has led to Bruce coming out to hail his goalkeeper Kirkland and has said he would love to see him in the England 'keeper jersey one day. Kirkland has always had his injury problems and this was a major inconvenience during his time on Merseyside where he could well have been the number one for Liverpool but it was not to be and was Wigan's gain.
The club has kept ten clean sheets so far this season and has one of the best defensive records in the division and Bruce believes Kirkland deserves huge credit. Of course it is a fantastic team effort but Kirkland has been instrumental in the clubs rise up the league table and when he committed his future to the club in the summer, Latics' fans were delighted to see him sort his future out.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Bruce said "For me, Chris is the best goalkeeper in England.
"If he didn't have the problem he has with his back, he'd be England's No. 1. That's no disrespect to David James.
"I played alongside one of the world's best in Peter Schmeichel and Chris is right up there. It's just a shame that, physically, getting on planes and buses, he struggles.
"We've had to restrict him and he has a personal conditioner who works to keep him on the pitch. I'm English and, if he can keep injury-free, I'd love to see him in goal for England because he deserves to be."
Keeping Kirkland fit is essential to the clubs push for European football next season and with Hull City coming up on Sunday, the game is important to the clubs ambitions for the rest of the season.
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