Hull confirms Bruce's England job talks

Hull City confirmed reports Tuesday that its gaffer Steve Bruce has been in talks with the Football Association over the England managerial vacancy.

The club released a statement:

The Club can confirm that manager Steve Bruce has held informal discussions regarding the England vacancy, although no official approach has been received from the FA.

We would hope to see the FA conclude their business quickly in order to avoid further speculation regarding Steve ahead of what is a season of huge importance for the Club following our return to the Premier League.

The Tigers' sentiments are similar to those of Sunderland, which has seen its manager Sam Allardyce also among those under consideration to succeed Roy Hodgson in charge of the Three Lions.

Related: Sam Allardyce contacted by FA, reportedly interviewed for England manager

Other names in the frame are believed to be the United States' oft-criticised boss Jurgen Klinsmann and Bournemouth's exciting young handler Eddie Howe.

Hull believes the FA is only interviewing Bruce as a "potential fallback option" should efforts to bring in preferred candidate Allardyce fall through, reports The Guardian's Louise Taylor.

The managerial vacancy for the national team opened up when Hodgson stepped down following an embarrassing Euro 2016 Round of 16 exit to minnow Iceland in June. It marked a sorry ending to an abysmal tournament, with the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane lacking potency due to what appeared to be tactical mishaps by their international boss.

In Bruce, England would acquire one of the most experienced gaffers the country can muster but - like Allardyce - one that hasn't collected a major honour in his coaching days.

(Courtesy: @OptaJoe)

England begins its 2018 World Cup qualification campaign against Slovakia on Sept. 4. Its hopes of having an interim manager to oversee that clash were dashed when Under-21 gaffer Gareth Southgate distanced himself from such a role.