Bruce: I’ll protect Old Trafford target

“Just have a look at what he did for that. It’s an easy excuse to say we need £100m.”

In the real world, that’s the kind of money that manager Steve Bruce is unlikely to ever be handSTEVE BRUCE says he will protect star midfielder Sean Longstaff – who’s gone from ‘£50million Manchester United target’ to Newcastle substitute.

Old Trafford came knocking this summer after the young midfielder had made just 13 Toon starts, having broken into Rafa Benitez’s side last Christmas.

Bruce says Sean, 21 – who is close to agreeing a new £80k-a-week contract – and his brother Matty, 19, who is also poised for a first-team breakthrough, can cope with all the hype.

Bruce said: “Sean and Matty are grounded –

“He looked a beaten man after two games, but you just wanted they’re a breath of fresh air, the two brothers.

“Of course, Sean’s had a serious knee injury so in that way, I’ve got to protect him a little bit.

“There’s times where he was just a little bit short and that has been in games in pre-season and watching him in training.”

Longstaff is in the

“I looked at some of players and no one was shouting or motivating each other. I would love to spend a week there and see what the hell is going on. It needs someone to get hold of that club.

“It doesn’t need someone shouting and screaming – you just need players who go out and give 100 per cent. That’s the absolute minimum.” squad for today’s trip to Tottenham.

Bruce said: “Nobody is under the spotlight more than we are at the minute.

“Individually and collectively you can at times not play well. No one intends to do it.

“I remember me personally having a nightmare in the Nou Camp one night. Didn’t want to do that, but I was absolutely hopeless, on the biggest stage of all.

“You have make sure you don’t just accept it.

“Nobody gives us a squeak at Spurs. It could be the right game to say, ‘C’mon then, let’s see what we’ve got... and go have a go’.”