Bruce has faith in strikers but wants results

STEVE Bruce has told his side they must get their shooting boots sooner rather than later.

When Bruce took the job of head coach in the summer he made it clear United needed to improve their offensive stats.

Yet the Magpies have faltered in the final third and while they have lost Ayoze Perez – yet to score for Leicester after his £30million move – and Salomon Rondon, they face the ignominy of having the least amount of goals in the opening 10 games in the club’s history.

Bruce is hoping the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton can get off the mark with their first strikes at St James’ Park and he revealed work on finishing has been going on in training this week.

He said: “It is never going to be easy but the more Saint-Maximin and Joelinton play the better.

“It is one area we have to improve on. We are aware of that.

“We just have to keep working at the training ground but it is the hardest part of the game.

“I hope we have enough firepower up there and we need to start scoring more.

“It is easy to do it on the training ground - but we have to show it on a match day.”

Joelinton’s form is being closely monitored by football observers with the £40million man netting just once so far in a Toon shirt since his move from Hoffenheim.

Bruce pointed to Arsenal’s big-money summer acquisition Nicolas Pepe – who cost £72million from Lille – as an example of why time is needed for player to adjust to life in England.

He added: “Look at Nicolas Pépé, he scored a couple, he cost £72million. It takes time to adjust.”