Steve Bruce bemoans 'big thing' he's had to contend with at Newcastle United

Bruce’s side were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool yesterday on the final day of the Premier League season.

The club ended the campaign in 13th place. However, Bruce – who was without a number of senior players, including captain Jamaal Lascelles, late in the campaign – feels that his team could have pushed higher up the division had it not been a run of injuries before and after the lockdown.

“It’s been a difficult season in a lot of respects,” said United’s head coach. “The big thing for us is the number of times we’ve gone into games with injuries.

"It’s been horrendous. It’s something we have to look at. We seen to be affected worse off than most. We’re missing seven or eight. It’s something which has blighted us this season.

"Let’s hope next season can be a little bit kinder in that department.”

Bruce pointed to the injuries suffered by Fabian Schar, Ciaran Clark, Matty Ritchie and Dwight Gayle as an example of the bad luck his team has had to contend with this season.

“Tissue injuries, for example, were down from last season,” said Bruce. “We’ve had a lot (of other injuries), to be fair. The dislocation of Fab Schar is one, Ciaran Clark went in for a tackle and broke an ankle, the metatarsal for Matty Ritchie. You know, the injuries to Dwight Gayle.

"It’s been relentless. Can we do better? We’ll see.”