Patience of Bruce

GEORDIE diplomat Steve Bruce has played it cool this January.

No winding up owner Mike Ashley with public challenges to buy big and break the transfer record.

No high-profile demands that Ashley gets a deal done on January 1.

Bruce has a different, gentler style to Rafa Benitez, who made the last few January windows look like war zones.

While the Spaniard’s messaging was loved by the fans – convincing them he was fighting their corner – Bruce (above) soaks up “puppet” accusations to have better dealings with the cheque-book keepers.

But he’s no grateful patsy, kowtowing to the Ashley regime.

He has his demands, has the best interest of Toon at heart and doesn’t want to waste cash on wrong transfers.

There is more than one way to get the club to sanction transfer spending and we’ll soon see how successful Bruce’s approach is.

It must certainly be a relief to

Ashley and MD Lee Charnley to hole up in a Tyneside hotel, like they did on Wednesday, look Bruce in the eye in a reasoned discussion without having to think that games are being played.

Having forked out £85million in the last 12 months on strikers, Newcastle have not exactly been miserly.

Bruce is asking for top quality, not squad fillers. Game changers. The brightest sparks. Athletes.

Newcastle have recovered financially from relegation now in their third season back in the top flight.

They have around £60m to spend per season, not including cash from sales. That keeps the club breaking even, not racking up silly losses like Everton.

Ashley is willing to spend. Bruce is privately demanding top players. They are hard to land in January and Bruce is prepared to be patient.

But they need one very good signing this month to prove they are serious in building up a solid squad – and help Bruce win over fans who chanted his name for the first time during the victory over Rochdale.