NUFC face fight to avoid drop – bookies

NEWCASTLE United face another battle to stay in the Premier League, according to the early odds from bookmakers.

Most bookies have United as fourth favourites for the drop, with the new top-flight season still a month away.

The good news for the Magpies and Steve Bruce is that three others sides are all more fancied for relegation at this early stage of proceedings, with Premier League new boys West Brom and Fulham leading the way, followed by last season’s strugglers Aston Villa.

Then come Newcastle and Crystal Palace – both at around 9/4 – before the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United, Brighton and Leeds.

Bruce could be forgiven for taking the odds with a pinch of salt. After all, many bookies wrote off United’s chances of staying up this time last year, especially following the opening-day defeat to Arsenal and the 3-1 setback at Norwich which followed.

However, United proved everyone wrong last term, comfortably securing safety with several games to go.

Fans will rightly be quick to point out that a club of Newcastle’s stature shouldn’t be happy with survival, of course, and Bruce has already gone on record to insist he will be looking to better his side’s performance this season.

All of which underlines the importance of getting the key signings right this summer.

The £40m gamble on Joelinton this time last year failed to bring the desired results, with the Brazilian hitting just two Premier League goals. However, Allan SaintMaximin’s arrival was an undoubted success, while loan moves for Jetro Willems and, later, Danny Rose, added to the quality of the squad.

The long-running takeover saga impinged on United’s transfer planning, and deals in this most unusual of windows have been few and far between so far.

The odds will change before the action gets underway in September, and while it could be argued they mean little at this stage, Newcastle must ensure that what they achieve in the transfer market ensures they are heading in the right direction in the eyes of the bookmakers.

LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE RELEGATION ODDS: Fulham Evens

West Brom 11/10

Aston Villa 2/1

Newcastle 9/4

Crystal Palace 9/4

Burnley 3/1

Sheffield United 4/1

Brighton 4/1

Leeds 4/1

West Ham 4/1

Southampton 11/2

Everton 20/1