Bruce gives Newcastle transfer update

Steve Bruce says Newcastle United won’t panic in this month’s transfer window – despite a lengthy injured list.

Bruce, without a clutch of important players, last week lost Jetro Willems and Paul Dummett to season-ending injuries.

However, Bruce – whose side came from two goals down to raw 2-2 with Everton at Goodison Park on Tuesday night – believes that United’s injured list will soon shorten.

“Look, we’re without Jetro and Dummy for the rest of the season,” said United’s head coach.

“Hopefully, after we play Norwich (on February 1), we’ve got a two-week break.

“I’m quietly confident everybody will be fit apart from them two.

“If somebody better can improve the squad, then I’ll try and grab.

“But what’s the point if Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle and (Yoshinori) Muto are going to be fit in the next two or three weeks?

“What’s the point of just bringing in someone if they’re not going to be any better? I’m going to be patient.”

The club, which has been in talks with Inter Milan over a loan for winger Valentino Lazaro, is looking at signing a left-back until the end of the season.

Newcastle this week signed midfielder Nabil Bentaleb on loan from Schalke 04.

“He’s a very good player,” said Bruce.

“He’s played at the highest level for Spurs.

“I was particularly impressed with him as a young player when he burst into the scene, and gets a bigmoney move to Schalke, where he’s probably played 90 times at the top end of the Bundesliga.

“He’s a good acquisition, a good player.”

Bruce is considering playing Bentaleb in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Oxford United at St James’s Park.

Allan Saint-Maximin, Andy Carroll and DeAndre Yedlin could also return for Newcastle in the fourthround tie.

“Andy, Yedlin, Saint-Maximin, Bentaleb – there’s maybe four (to play),” said head coach Bruce.