Bruce: I can’t help our lack of style

STEVE BRUCE says newcastle do not have the quality to play how he would like as he defended criticism over their style of play.

the Magpies were booed off following goalless draws with Oxford and norwich, and there is concern among supporters at how easily they squander possession.

they travel to Oxford this evening for their Fa cup fourth- round replay, with Bruce admitting: ‘i would love to play two up front but i don’t think we’re ready.

‘the team went to a back five this time last year because before that they couldn’t win a corner.

‘setting them up this way, it ain’t me. i take the point, we can be better. But to keep the ball well enough you need a certain type of quality.

‘i haven’t got to the stage where i think, “this is what i hope we can be”. We’re no closer to that.’

it was suggested that good fortune had played a large part in newcastle being 12th in the Premier League on 31 points, but an angry Bruce countered: ‘ in the last couple of weeks, maybe. But i can’t see that the accumulation of points over the last seven months in the Premier League is luck.

‘i think that’s an insult to the players.

‘they might not be technically the best but they go out and give us as much as they can.

‘i could just change us to a back four tomorrow and say, “Ok, there we go”, and be relegated. But i think they’re comfortable with what they do, and hopefully we can evolve a change in time.’

Meanwhile, Bruce admits he fears losing Matty Longstaff, with the 19- year- old midfielder out of contract in the summer. Longstaff, younger brother of team-mate sean, made his first-team debut against Manchester United in October and scored the winning goal, but a new deal in the wake of his breakthrough has never materialised. Bruce said: ‘it’s a concern for us all. they’ve got the power these days, the players.’

sean is also in talks over a new deal, and Bruce added: ‘We always want to keep our best young players, especially if they’re Geordies. Let’s hope they both get tied up.’

Oxford are expecting a sell-out at the kassam stadium tonight but midfielder Mark sykes insists promotion from League One remains the club’s priority.

sykes said: ‘ it’s nice to play newcastle twice, but we all know the league is massive for us. it’s the most important thing.’