Sean Dyche reveals his view on Steve Bruce and the size and stature of Newcastle United

Bruce takes his 11th-placed Newcastle United side to Turf Moor tomorrow to face Dyche’s Burnley.

And Burnley manager Dyche has been speaking about his friendship with his opposite number at St James's Park ahead of the Premier League game.

"I’m a big fan of his,” said Dyche. “He’s been very, very kind to me down the years, and very helpful going back to my Watford days.

"He knows his stuff. Off the pitch, he’s a very humble fella, and a helpful voice sometimes when you need a bit of advice you can speak to him. My impression and opinion is that he’s one of the best around."

Bruce’s appointment as Rafa Benitez’s successor was met with a lukewarm reception on Tyneside.

Fans, unhappy at the departure of Benitez, questioned the ambition of the club at the time.

"We’re not going to be giants of the Premier League,” Dyche told the Burnley Express. “It’s an ongoing challenge to be in the Premier League, and I think our fans have accepted that.

"I think Newcastle just look at it differently. They’re a big club. They have spent some money and changed the manager. They had an outgoing manager who was very popular, and an incoming manager who’s growing in popularity for the right reasons. He’s doing a great job in tough circumstances, but he’s certainly someone who can handle that job."