Steve Bruce safe at Newcastle United as Mike Ashley 'won't panic' despite relegation fears

Newcastle United, beaten 2-0 by Chelsea on Monday night, are teetering above the Premier League’s relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, head coach Steve Bruce is safe in his job, for now, despite the club’s league position.

"The owner at Newcastle is only bothered about one thing – and that's keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League," Shearer told Premier League Productions. “They're not bothered if they finish fourth bottom or fifth bottom so long as they stay in the Premier League, so I don't see them panicking as yet.”

Newcastle are seven points above third-bottom Fulham, who have a game in hand.

And Shearer, United's all-time leading goalscorer, says the team must improve its “attitude” at Old Trafford.

"That’s a tough game Fulham have at Burnley away in their next game, but I thought Newcastle's performance was poor,” said Shearer.

"I thought it was weak. They were never really in the game at all, and, from a Chelsea point of view, it was just a matter of how many they were going to get and they saw the game out.

"I would expect it will be tough at Old Trafford. I don't think Man United are that good a team, but, certainly, Newcastle have to show more intent against Man United than they did because if they go into that game with the same sort of attitude, there's only going to be one outcome."

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