Steve Bruce addresses the year left on his Newcastle United contract

Bruce was left in a seemingly untenable position following the relegation-threatened club’s shocking 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break.

Owner Mike Ashley opted to back Bruce – who insisted that he would not resign at the Amex Stadium – in the wake of the damaging loss.

Bruce has another year left on his St James’s Park contract – and United’s head coach hopes to see it out.

Asked about his future, Bruce said: "Well, look, that's for other people to decide that.

"I can only focus on the next nine games, which I'm going to be, and relying on that experience, which I've drawn upon over the last 20-odd years, because I'll need it over this testing time, and I'm determined to see it through.

"I hope I'm still the manager of Newcastle next year, (but) that's for others to decide."

Bruce – who started his managerial career in the late 1990s – has drawn on his “experience” over the past fortnight.

"Of course, all of this has been tough, full stop,” said Bruce. “When you take the Newcastle job, you know it's going to be tough. There's no shying away from it."You rely on your family, of course, your staff, who work with you tirelessly to try and put it right, and also you draw on the experience. If you do 980-odd games or whatever, there's a fair amount of experience there.

"In some people's eyes, I wouldn't have thought I'd done half a dozen. So you draw on that experience.

"Look, there's no doubt it's been difficult but let's move forward, let's get ready.

"We took nine points from our last eight or nine games, which is nothing mouthwatering, but usually that's enough to keep you in the division, a point a game, usually."Yes, it hasn't been anywhere good enough, but we've given ourselves a decent platform.

"Now, with the next eight or nine games, it's about how many points can we accumulate to make sure we stay in this division."

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