Steve Bruce reveals he was told about Newcastle United's first game

Jeff Hendrick, left, celebrates his goal with Andy Carroll.

The club, which takes on Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup at St James’s Park tomorrow night, beat West Ham United 2-0 on Saturday.

Two of the club’s summer signings – Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick – were on target in the behind-closed-doors game at the London Stadium.

And Bruce – who tried to change the way the team played last season after succeeding Rafa Benitez at the club – hopes that Newcastle’s attacking performance against West Ham can be replicated week in, week out.

“I saw a mate of mine this morning, and he said it's the best we've played in two or three years,” said United's head coach. “I said 'really? I'm not so sure about that. But if that's what you think'.

“We're going to be a little bit different this year. I said last year that we would try to change, and I didn't think we were ready for it.

"With the players now that we've brought in, and also the players that we've brought in in the last 12 months, the squad’s bigger and better, and we'll try to be the way we were against West Ham.

“Now, it may be a little bit different against the really big boys of the league, but that's the way we want to try to be.”

Meanwhile, Bruce says he will make “wholesale” changes for the Blackburn cup tie.