Former Everton boss Joe Royle says Wigan Athletic's Steve Bruce should be the next man in charge of England once Fabio Capello steps down.

Royle, now back in charge of Oldham Athletic, told the Daily Star Sunday: "I played against Fabio many years ago in New York when he played for Italy and I played for England. If he played for Italy then he was a top player.

"But ideally I would ­prefer an Englishman in charge.

"England coaches and managers don't tend to get top club jobs here because the perception is that they need foreign coaches to handle all the foreign players.

"So it's going to be hard for an English manager to get the England job.

"Steve Bruce, though, would be a good candidate.

"He's the ­highest-placed English manager at the moment.

"He's doing great things and is certainly a candidate for Manager of the Year with the resources they have got.

"Maybe he might be the next England manager and that would be nice.

"He'd be a candidate - if he wanted it, that is. That's another thing.

"You have to find an Englishman who wants it. Someone willing to give up his privacy and lifestyle."