Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce to undergo test for signs of dementia after heading footballs during 20-year playing career

STEVE BRUCE is ready to undergo tests for signs of dementia.

The Aston Villa boss was renowned for his often bloody bravery in both boxes as a centre-half.

PA:Empics Sport

PA:Press Association

Now, alerted by fears expressed by Alan Shearer over the dangers of heading the ball, Bruce accepts he should have doctors examine him.

Bruce, 56 – who made 926 appearances over two decades for Manchester United, Norwich, Gillingham and Birmingham – said: “Luckily I never had to head one of the old, heavy balls.

“But I was always getting head wounds. And when I think about it I reckon I should get myself checked out.

“There is a point to be proved over this issue because while we as managers get checked out for stuff like blood pressure or heart rate there are no checks for dementia.”

BBC

BBC

Ex-England star Shearer has hit out at what he sees as football’s cover-up of the potential problems of heading a ball.

He underwent a series of scans and tests to examine how heading the ball affects the brain for a BBC documentary Dementia, Football and Me to be aired on Sunday.

SHEAR FURY Alan Shearer raps FA and PFA for failing to tackle football’s dementia crisis

The Sun columnist said: “Clearly the authorities have been very reluctant to find out any answers.

“They have swept it under the carpet.

PA:Empics Sport

“It’s a tough game, it’s a brilliant game, but we have to make sure it’s not a killer game.”

Bruce added: “I feel just fine but we all have to take the issue seriously.

“When I was playing, head injuries seemed to happen every week — but you just got on with it.”