Steve Bruce reveals new target for his Newcastle United side

The club, unbeaten in seven home games, is 11th in the Premier League with 22 points ahead of tomorrow's home fixture against ninth-placed Crystal Palace.

And Bruce, United's head coach, wants his side to take at least three more points from the final three games of the year.

“If we can get up to 25 points before the turn of the year, we’ll have given ourselves a decent platform,” said Bruce. “It’s important then we build on that in the second half of the season. There are still 14 clubs looking over their shoulder. It would be nice to look the other way.”

Bruce hopes to have midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron back for the Palace game. The pair missed last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.