Neil Warnock: I should have had the Aston Villa job

The Cardiff City boss, who was taking his side to Villa Park today, admitted he was 'disappointed' not to receive a call from B6 in the summer.

And the much-travelled 67-year-old said he felt he would have been 'the ideal candidate to sort everything out' after Villa's relegation.

Warnocksaid he spoke to about five clubs in the summer before joining Cardiff after the sacking of Paul Trollope last month.

But he paid tribute to the work done by Steve Bruce since taking over from Di Matteo.

''With Steve and myself I think you get what you see. I was disappointed I did not get a chance with Villa in the summer if I'm honest, because I thought it would have been ideal to sort everything out," Warnock told BBC Wales.

"And that is why I am not surprised at all Steve has gone in and done really well.

"I am not saying we are similar types, but I think we have the same philosophies regarding management'

Warnock believes Bruce, unbeaten at Villa, deserved a crack at the England job.

''Personally I thought he should have been England manager at the time," he said.

''I know Gareth Southgate has done a good job, but I am surprised they have not spoken to Steve again.''

Bruce, in turn, described Warnock as 'Marmite' but said: "You have to respect him. He's one of those characters where, he's like Marmite, you either like him or loathe him.

"Any team that seems to be in trouble, he's the first one they call. "