The £250,000 deal that could save Newcastle United

There was one in and one out at the club on transfer deadline day. In came Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock on loan, and out went DeAndre Yedlin. The defender joined Galatasaray ahead of the summer expiry of his contract at St James’s Park.

Bruce, however, didn’t get Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, another of his targets.

Of course, there wasn’t much business done across the Premier League due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Another difference this year was that supporters weren’t clamouring for a striker. The club did good business last summer by signing Callum Wilson from Bournemouth for £20million – and many fans feel that Bruce already has a squad capable of challenging for a top-10 place.

As it is, the club, 16th in the Premier League, is trying to stave off the threat of relegation following a shocking couple of months on the field.

Willock, a box-to-box midfielder with an eye for a goal, will add to the competition in midfield, but United’s best bit of business may have come last week.

The club paid Bournemouth £250,000 for coach Graeme Jones, and there’s a belief that he can make a real difference on the training field following the weekend’s impressive 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

Jones, a 50-year-old Geordie, prepared the players for tonight's home game against Crystal Palace, and there’s hope he can give a talented team an identity.