Mike Ashley's view on Steve Bruce and Graeme Jones at Newcastle United amid new Rafa Benitez link

Bruce's side is battling to stay in the Premier League after a difficult few months on the field, and the Transfer Window podcast this week claimed that Ashley had approached Benitez, available after leaving Dalian Professional last month, about a return to St James’s Park.

However, Bruce is understood to retain the support of owner Ashley, who was involved in a series of stand-offs with Benitez during his managerial spell at the club, which is 17th in the Premier League.

The club recruited Graeme Jones to assist Bruce last month, and the club has won two of the four games it has played since the 50-year-old arrived on Tyneside. Ashley’s understood to be hopeful of a further improvement with Jones alongside Bruce in the dugout.

Benitez, keen to return to the Premier League, could instead return to Newcastle should the club change ownership.

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