Spellbound Potter lauds United boss

STEVE Bruce has done ‘an amazing job’ at Newcastle United given the ‘negativity’ surrounding his appointment a year ago, according to Brighton manager Graham Potter.

Following popular predecessor Rafa Benitez’s exit last summer, Bruce was parachuted into the hot seat just three-and-a-half weeks before the season started.

The boyhood United fan quickly acknowledged that he was ‘not going to be everyone’s cup of tea’ but pleaded with supporters to judge him on results.

There have been some poor performances along the way, including a 5-0 defeat at Leicester and more recently a 5-0 pasting off Manchester City, while some fans have bemoaned the low quality of football served up for much of the season.

Bruce has also had to contend with the uncertainty surrounding the club’s prospective takeover in recent months.

Despite it all, United are 13th in the Premier League and reached their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2006 last month.

That is not cause for celebration but Potter has been impressed by the job Bruce has done with the Magpies.

“I think he’s done an amazing job when you consider the bit of negativity that was surrounding it to start with and a lot of the off the pitch noise shall we say that doesn’t help but in terms of results, he’s clear of anything,” the Brighton boss said.

“He’s assembled a team with some real attacking threats there, defensively organised, so I think he’s done a great job.

“He’s a really experienced guy, a top football person. Whenever I come across his teams, I respect the teams a lot so I think he’s done really well.”