So will Bruce stick

SELECTION DILEMMAS THROUGHOUT THE TEAM AS UNITED COACH MULLS OPTIONS

STEVE Bruce is pondering tweaking his team ahead of Newcastle United’s tricky assignment at West Ham this weekend.

The Toon boss was far from satisfied with the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and is believed to have made his feelings clear in no uncertain terms straight after the game in the dressing room on Sunday afternoon.

Bruce has already stated publicly he was unhappy with the way his side reverted to a similar defensive shape to the last two seasons with his team holding a slender lead against Wolves.

But it is believed he highlighted the manner in which his side conceded the 72nd-minute equaliser to his players.

With Sean Longstaff suspended, Bruce will have one enforced change, but he is understood to be toying with the idea of recalling Jonjo Shelvey, while Dwight Gayle is edging closer to a start.

Matt Ritchie is also right back in contention after a successful return from an ankle injury.

Federico Fernandez could also keep his place, although Florian Lejeune came through his 45-minute run-out against Middlesbrough reserves unscathed.

As disappointing as dropping two points was for Bruce, his biggest problem is the lack of firepower going into Saturday’s encounter at the London Stadium.

When Bruce arrived, he immediately identified two issues he wanted to improve.

One was the lack of goals scored in the 2018/19 season, when United scored just 42 times over 38 top-flight games. The other was the style of play with Bruce stating in August that he wanted his side to get on the front foot and move away from “parking the bus”.

But in his first 10 matches, Bruce feels his team appear to be conditioned to playing in the same way as they did under Rafa Benitez.

Offensively they have scored the same amount of Premier League goals (six) at the same 10-game stage.

After Sunday’s match, Bruce had said: “I was delighted the way we played in the first half and needed more of it in the second but for some reason we didn’t play in the second half.

“We needed to gain composure and a foothold in the game but we gave the ball away so many times and sat back too much.

“We forgot to take part in the second half. We said we wanted to win the second half as well.”

United’s glaring problem has been getting decent service to £40million man Joelinton.