It’s lift-off for Bruce
STEVE BRUCE thinks he’s found the formula to rocket revitalised Newcastle up the table.
The Toon chief is set to name an unchanged side at Chelsea today – the same one which beat Manchester United a fortnight ago and transformed the mood on Tyneside.
Before that game, Bruce was berating the lack of energy in the Magpies’ team but that’s all changed since the return of fit-again pair Allan SaintMaximim and DeAndre Yedlin and teenager Matty Longstaff’s stunning Premier League baptism.
Suddenly a side which looked ponderous during the 5-0 mauling at the hands of Leicester looks full of pace and mobility.
“What we had on the pitch against United gave us legs in the middle and out wide and we’ve now got pace which is vitally important,” he said.
“One result is not going to make a difference but it’s given us a different dimension.”
Newcastle are still just a point above the relegation zone but having been handed a daunting fixture list early on, Bruce is quietly satisfied.
He said: “After Chelsea, we will have played five of last season’s top six in our first nine games plus Leicester, who are up there.
“So if we can get something out of Chelsea, we’re probably level par which is OK.
“But there is still room for improvement and I genuinely think we will get better.
“Now we have to find that consistency away from home.”
Bruce confirmed one priority is to tie down Sean and Matty Longstaff to long-term deals.