Steve Bruce is running out of time at Newcastle United as Graeme Jones gets to work

Certainly, the team needs fresh ideas. The club, without a win in 11 games, is in an uncomfortable position in the Premier League, and the past few games have made uncomfortable viewing for fans, who have been locked out of St James’s Park for almost a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The appointment of Jones as “assistant” to Bruce has got fans talking. Jones, second-favourite with bookmakers behind Rafa Benitez to succeed Bruce at St James’s Park, spoke like a manager in his first interview this week.

The 50-year-old, a boyhood United fans, clearly has his own ideas of how to set up a team and how to play.

It has even been suggested that Bruce could move upstairs and take a director of football role at the club sometime in the future.

Bruce, up to now, has retained the backing of owner Mike Ashley, but he admitted yesterday that he's not “bulletproof”. Ashley will have to act if there’s no improvement.

The 60-year-old also spoke of the backing he had from supporters ahead of this afternoon’s game against Everton at Goodison Park.

“I can bring you in a pile of letters I signed only yesterday,” said Bruce. “People wishing me good luck, telling me to keep bashing away. Not all doom and gloom, but I understand their frustration.”

Bruce will keep “bashing away”, but fans are asking whether Jones’s arrival signals the beginning of the end for him as head coach.

And the Everton game – and next week’s two home fixtures – are likely to decide his fate.

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