'It's disrespectful!': Steve Bruce reacts to managerial speculation at Newcastle United

Newcastle United will restart their Premier League campaign on Sunday following a 104-day break with a behind-closed-doors home game against Sheffield United.

Owner Mike Ashley agreed to sell the 13th-placed club in April, and the £300million deal is with the Premier League for approval.

Benitez, Bruce’s predecessor, and out-of-work Pochettino have been linked with the manager’s job at Newcastle since the sale was agreed.

Bruce, however, has two years left on the deal at St James’s Park which he signed last summer, and United’s head coach has admitted that the uncertainty has “unsettled” his staff.

Asked if it had been hard seeing other managers being linked with his job, Bruce said: “Some of it has been disrespectful, of course. But I’ve been in the job long enough, and I’ve been here the best part of 12 months.

“The one thing you need here more than anything is thick skin, and to let it ride, unfortunately, and try and ride the storm. It’s never easy, and it becomes unsettling – not for myself, but for other people who are close to me (like) my staff.”

There’s an impatience on Tyneside for a decision on the takeover from the Premier League, which has had to consider objections from Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports and Amnesty International.

“With the takeover, and I’ve only been here 12 months, I think everybody’s a bit bored with it,” said Bruce.

“We’ve heard it all before. It seems to drag on.

“The one thing I can’t do is let it be an excuse. We have to just focus on what we are paid to do and win football matches, and make sure we’ve prepared the players as best we can.

“Take away that uncertainty, and use it a little bit if we can.

“People have written the team and myself off all season – let’s answer it in the best possible way by finishing the season as well as we can, and catching Burnley, who are four points ahead of us.”