Wigan manager Steve Bruce has hailed the impact Sven-Goran Eriksson has had on Manchester City in his first season in charge.Returning to manage an English club side after the problems he endured towards the end of his time as England boss, it appeared Eriksson was jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

But City and Eriksson conjured a rousing start to the season, and although they have slipped of late, the 2-1 win at Manchester United recently served notice they can upset the odds on any given day.

So while Wigan might have won four and drawn one of their five Premier League meetings with City, Bruce is taking nothing for granted against an Eriksson-coached team.

"As a relative newcomer to management, although I've been doing it 10 years now, you look at the people with longevity, who have been there, seen it, done it and wore the t-shirt, none more so than Sven," Bruce said.

"The reason he got the England job was because of the huge success he had as a club manager, winning the titles and trophies he did in other countries. You always look at him and say, 'he must have something'.

"To get to the top, I know how hard it is to get there and to work as hard as you have to do, so I've the utmost respect for him and the ability he has.

"He's taken on the challenge at Manchester City this season, and he has done well so far.

"The other week they beat Manchester United, and for anybody to go to Old Trafford and get a result is fantastic, but they also played very well on the day.

"They had a slip-up on Monday in losing to Everton, but I'm under no illusion they are a good team with good players, that's for sure.

"We need to play as well as we did when we faced them in my first game in charge, and if we do that then we'll give them a really good game, and hopefully we'll come out on top.

"But Sven has formed the nucleus of a really good squad, and he has managed to get a lot of foreign players to settle very quickly, and that's credit to him."

The reverse fixture against City was back on December 1, with the 1-1 draw serving to lift a club that had slumped to 19th after claiming just eight points from their opening 13 games.

The crisis led to the axing of Chris Hutchings and the arrival of Bruce, who has since instigated a revival, built on the platform of the home result against City.

In his 14 matches at the helm, the Latics have won 18 points and are now up to 14th, and they have the opportunity today to ease their plight with another win.

But a cautious Bruce remarked: "We've a chance to give ourselves more breathing space, but let's be fair, it is a big ask going to a City side who, if they had beaten Everton, could have gone joint fourth.

"Despite that, what Sven has achieved this season in his first season in charge has been marvellous. So it is going to be difficult."

Bruce is likely to name an unchanged side following last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Derby, with right-back Ryan Taylor the only absentee with a rib injury.

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