Damage inflicted on Bruce

STEVE BRUCE faces a battle to shore up Newcastle’s relegation battle on and off the field.

The head coach was dealt a massive blow after Allan Saint-maximin and Miguel Almiron were ruled out until next month.

And Bruce – who gave his players two days off to cool down after the chaotic draw with Wolves – has it all to do on the training ground, if he’s to turn around low morale.

Saint-maximin (above) has a torn groin muscle and Almiron, the recent stand-out player, has damaged knee ligaments.

Callum Wilson is already in rehab after pulling a hamstring and is out for another two games at least.

That leaves Toon without their three top strikers, who have scored 16 of their 27 goals in the league, and provided nine assists.

Newcastle have won just two of their last 10 League games and are fourthbottom with a trip to West Brom at the weekend.

Asked if Toon could win games without his top three hitmen, Bruce said: “We are going to have to. We will have to find a way. Our top scorer last year only had six goals and we found ways to get results.

“It has been brutal to us, to our big players. We have to get on with it, accept it, and take on the challenge.”

In a statement, the club confirmed the latest injuries and added: “Both players have undergone scans and will continue their rehabilitation with the club’s medical team.”

United players will be crying out for a clear tactical plan in the month ahead, which could define Bruce’s future.

Several stars were unhappy at the lack of clarity after a substitution led to confusion and players out of position in the lead up to Ruben Neves’ equaliser at the weekend.

After the Wolves game, Bruce singled out several players for public criticism, including Matt Ritchie, keeper Martin Dubravka, Joelinton and Jamal Lewis.

GARETH BALE will tell Real Madrid they will have to pay to get rid of him even if he leaves in the summer.

The Wales international (above) is back in form after scoring twice in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Burnley.

He is on a season-long loan from Madrid, with his £600,000-a-week pay split equally between the two clubs.

The 31-year-old is open to staying in north London next season when he will be in the final 12 months of his contract in Madrid.

Sources close to the player believe no decision will be made on his future until the end of the season.

And they warn Bale will not take a pay cut in the final year of his deal with Real, where he is out of favour with boss Zinedine Zidane (above).

That means the Spanish club would have to heavily subsidise his salary again if he returns on loan to Tottenham, or stump up a significant pay-off to leave permanently should the north London club try to sign him outright.