2 SHARES Share Tweet

Steve Bruce has pledged to give up both kebabs and crime writing over Lent to focus on guiding Aston Villa away from relegation danger in the Championship.

While most people only give up a maximum of one vice ahead of Easter, Bruce has vowed to do without two of his guilty pleasures to set an example to his squad.

Bruce was pictured stopping off for a kebab after training in January.

His love of the snack has since contributed to him being linked with taking charge of Besiktas, Galatasaray and The Sultan Kebab House in Solihull.

Earlier in the season, Bruce pledged not to write any more crime novels, but appears to have been tempted back to the keyboard as four draft chapters of a new book have come to light.

The former Manchester United player’s publisher has asked him to take another break due to fears that real-life acquaintances of Bruce may feel uncomfortable with similarities to certain characters in his next book.

The draft chapters describe Steve Barnes, the manager and amateur detective who is the hero of the Steve Bruce trilogy, going rogue.

In chapter two, Barnes ties up the back four of his fictional club and murders them by running them over with the team bus after they concede three goals at home to Barnsley.

In a remarkable coincidence, Aston Villa lost 1-3 at home to Barnsley last month.

One member of the back four in that defeat, Jordan Amavi, has not been seen in the first team since.

Image courtesy of Ronnie Macdonald via Wikimedia Commons