'It's ludicrous!': Steve Bruce has strong words ahead of Everton game

Newcastle United take on Everton at St James’s Park this afternoon less than 44 hours after their 4-1 Boxing Day defeat to Manchester United ended.

“It’s ludicrous,” said head coach Bruce. “I know it’s the festive period, but we say the same thing year in, year out.

“For the first four months of the season we play 12 games, and then you’re asked to play six or seven in a month. I know there’s a (winter) break for the first time, but it’s in February. It doesn’t really make sense to me.

“You’re asking players to play tired and that’s when injuries happen. It becomes a bit of a lottery. I was a centre-half, it didn’t matter to me. I could play every day. But the ones who have to run, and I have to ask them to go again on Saturday, it’s ridiculous.”