'He needs to move on': Steve Bruce tells Newcastle United player he can leave

The club is looking primarily at the loan market for January recruits, though there is money available if the right player is available.

Bruce has also suggested that he’s prepared to wait until next summer to strengthen his squad.

However, there will almost certainly be outgoings, and Bruce is prepared to sanction at least three departures in the New Year.

Midfielders Jack Colback and Henri Saivet – who missed out on places in his 25-man Premier League squad – are available, while Ki Sung-yueng, sidelined with illness, could also be allowed to leave.

Colback – who joined Newcastle as a free agent in 2014 after his Sunderland deal expired – and Saivet, frozen out by Rafa Benitez, Bruce’s managerial predecessor, have still been training with the first-team squad.

And Bruce said: “It’s that awful situation where you have to pick a squad.

“The day before (the transfer deadline), Jack was going to be in the squad. And, for somebody out there, he’ll be a very good player. I’m convinced of that.

“The same goes for Saivet, as well. They don’t find themselves in the squad, so to train every day when there’s no game at the end of it is hard.

“I do believe keeping them around the place. Jack, being Jack, is a good pro, has trained every day hoping that he can reboot his career. He needs to move on.”

Colback, out of contract next summer, spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, while Saivet – who has a deal until 2021 – was loaned to Bursaspor.

Meanwhile, Ki, also in the final year of his United contract, last started a Premier League game in August, and Bruce says the midfielder is “entitled to knock down the door” given that he needs to be playing at his age.

“Ki’s another one,” said Bruce. “I’m sure there’ll be two or three. If you’re not paying regularly when you get to a certain age, you’re entitled to knock down the door. I know what I was like. I wouldn’t accept that I couldn’t play on a Saturday.”