Bruce avoids a Toon crisis

STEVE BRUCE held a tactical summit with senior Newcastle players to thrash out a plan to quell discontent on Tyneside.

The Magpies manager was aware of growing pressure to produce more entertainment, and prove he is getting the best out of a squad well strengthened in the summer.

Bruce laid down his own demands of his stars and sought their opinions on what was going wrong – and the clear-the-air meetings brought immediate results with a win against Crystal Palace on Friday night.

The United boss is under no pressure from owner Mike Ashley, despite being unpopular among a section on Toon fans.

But Bruce (left) has shown he is a wily operator. By letting key players speak he made them part of finding the solution, rather than dictating as some bosses do, and every time Newcastle seem to be lurching towards a crisis under his leadership, they find a performance.

Newcastle have a goalscorer in Callum Wilson – seven in 10 appearances – who can lift them out of the ordinary given the right formation behind him.

Bruce reverted to a back four, therefore bolstering his midfield, and allowing Joelinton to take a No.10 role where he can work hard, and he even got involved in creating Wilson’s opener, and scoring only his third top-flight goal.

Getting a win without calf injury victim Allan Saint-Maximin, who has lost form, was a bonus, and now presents the French winger with a challenge to up his own game.

Key for Bruce is getting more from £40million Joelinton.

Bruce said: “We had a performance from Joelinton. Physically he is getting used to the league.

“He has to improve his finishing. He has stuck at it. The kid wants to do well, and no disputing has had a tough time.

“Some adapt quickly, but a big signing is always a risk.”