Bruce keeps faith with young guns

STEVE Bruce is not giving up on Newcastle United’s front line because “they will get better” and has urged Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron to take their finishing in training on to the big stage.

Newcastle spent big on the trio this year but they have mustered just one goal between them so far as the Magpies struggle for goals following the departures of last season’s top scorers Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon.

Joelinton, the club’s record signing, has lacked service and looked isolated up front while Almiron has spurned good opportunities to end his drought in black and white.

With Saint-Maximin having only come back into the team last month, after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, Bruce plans to stand by his young front line.

He said ahead of today’s trip to West Ham: “I have not really had to be that patient with the front three because Allan has only played a few games and one of them was Manchester United and another one was Chelsea, so against them you are not going to be creating much.

“For the first time against Wolves last week, we had more possession in the first half against the opposition, which pleased me. Second half we were bang average.

“That could be because Wolves changed their system slightly but we did not have enough possession. Certainly in the middle of the pitch, we gave it away far too often and that for me was the real concern.

“I can only change the system or change the personnel.

“It cannot continue on forever but I honestly think those three up top at the minute have only played together three times and two of them were against Chelsea and Manchester United.”

Bruce added: “I wil not give up. Two of them are 22, 23.

“I know it is not just an age thing but when you consider Longy is 22, in that respect, we class him as a young one. We have to keep working on them. They will get better.

“However, confidence for a striker in particular is key to it.”