Newcastle United news: Mike Ashley 'minded' to make bold Steve Bruce call, ex-Leeds United ace slams Magpies

Mike Ashley is considering sticking with Steve Bruce, even if Newcastle United are relegated to the Championship.
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That’s according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who says owner Ashley is “minded” to stand by his head coach, regardless of their league status next term.

United fans supporters demanded the 60-year-old was sacked following the 3-0 defeat to Brighton, however, Ashley quickly got the message out that he’d be going nowhere.

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Now, there is a possibility Bruce could be viewed as the man to bring the club back to the top-flight, if the unthinkable happens in May.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley could stick with Steve Bruce, even if the club is relegated to the Championship. (LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley could stick with Steve Bruce, even if the club is relegated to the Championship. (LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley could stick with Steve Bruce, even if the club is relegated to the Championship. (LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

Ornstein, speaking on the Ornstein and Chapman podcast, said: “Mike Ashley for now, is sticking behind Steve Bruce and that was the feeling or message we got very clearly a few weeks ago.

“I was actually being told around the time that Mike Ashley is minded to stick with Steve Bruce, even in the event of relegation. and that Steve Bruce would be the best possible manager to bring Newcastle back up and the onus was on the players to get their act together.

“They helped create this mess, and they can help Newcastle get out of it – that was the view that I was being told that Mike Ashley held.”

Callum Wilson eyeing return against Tottenham Hotspur

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Callum Wilson is confident he’ll be fit to face Tottenham Hotspur in United’s first game back after the international break.

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim the 29-year-old is nearing full fitness on Tyneside having missed the last six games with a hamstring injury.

Wilson is Newcastle’s top scorer with 10 league goals this season after arriving from Bournemouth for £20million last summer.

Indeed, Wilson, only yesterday, posted a video with some of those goals on his Instagram page, with the caption: “Can’t wait to get back out there.”

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His return will provide a massive boost for the Magpies, who are now just two points above the drop zone.

Former Leeds United striker rips into Toon players

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes Newcastle are a “sinking ship” under Bruce.

Bruce’s men face Tottenham, Burnley, West Ham United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Leicester, Manchester City, Sheffield United and Fulham in their final nine games.

Whelan said: “It looks like there’s absolutely no confidence in that club whatsoever.

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Steve Bruce keeps saying he’s not going to walk away. Will a change at this moment do much? I’m not so sure.

“It can’t get any worse. He’s not getting the best out of the players. They have injuries, I get that. But you’ve got to find that energy, that way of geeing them up somehow. It doesn’t seem like he’s able to do that.

“That’s a really worrying thing that you can’t get the players to do the basics – putting effort in, working hard, running hard. Before you even think about your flair and your link-up play, you’ve got to tick one box and that’s ‘are we working hard?’

“At the moment, he’s not even getting that. That’s ringing relegation alarm bells. At least Fulham are working hard, working for the manager.

“When you look at Newcastle, they look like a sinking ship. They’re going only one way and that’s right down.”