Magpies will avoid drop, says Hoddle

GLENN Hoddle has tipped United to survive the drop - but says Toon fans ‘expect more’ than a survival battle.

The former England boss - now a pundit on BT Sport - also rejected claims those expectations start with a demand to see Newcastle in the top four.

Hoddle (pctured below) said: “When Steve Bruce went to Newcastle I don’t think they expected anything else but to stay in the division.

“I think Steve’s job is safe this season. It is still going to be very difficult for any of those bottom three to sneak out of there.

“I think the problem is for Steve, for Newcastle and their fanatical fans, they look at Leicester in the top four, they look at

Wolves playing in the Europa

League, they look at

West Ham at the moment.

Aston Villa is another example.

“They look at them and think ‘we should be doing that.’

“I don’t think they expect to be in the top four but they expect more.

“However, being safe from the relegation is where I see Newcastle at the moment.”

Newcastle have been feeling the impact of Callum Wilson’s injury - picked up last month against Southampton.

The striker is doing ‘triple sessions’ to get back to action as soon as possible and Hoddle has been impressed with Wilson’s work rate so far this season.

He added: “I think Wilson is a good striker and if he had not been injured over a longer period of time he would be scoring goals.

“Newcastle fans need to understand, you are not going to have 25 chances every game.

“As a striker, you are going to have one or two chances and you need to take one out of two or three.

“Then you might have to wait for a game or two games before you have another chance.

“United are not a team which is going to make a lot of chances for a striker - but Wilson will prove someone who is capable of that sort of ratio.”