Another SIX days off for Toon flops

STEVE BRUCE has scheduled SIX days off from nine for his Newcastle squad despite the club being in crisis after the surrender at Brighton on Saturday. Sportsmail revealed this month that players were concerned by the days off they were being given amid their fight for survival. That is why there is no longer surprise at this plan to train for only three days this week. The players were off yesterday and on Sunday, and will return to training today, so the inquest into the defeat at Brighton will not begin until three days after the game.

But Sportsmail has been told there are also plans to give the squad four days off this weekend, from Friday to Monday. As one source said: ‘The players are used to doing their own training by now. They aren’t surprised by the schedule.’ But there was shock among the players when club sources let it be known on Sunday that Mike Ashley would be sticking by Bruce. There is a feeling among some of the squad that the manager wants to be sacked, with the showing at Brighton the biggest indicator yet that he has lost the dressing room. Bruce played without a striker — Joelinton was on the wing — and he left centre forwards Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll on the bench. That pair stormed down the tunnel at full time and did not reappear for the usual post-match workout. Bruce has insisted he will not resign despite Newcastle winning only two matches in 20. A club source said the training schedule takes the mental and physical wellbeing of the players into account.