Time is running out for Lee Charnley at Newcastle United

Surely the easy bit now is keeping them at Newcastle United?

Nothing at this club, however, is ever easy. And Matty Longstaff will be free to leave the club at the end of the season if a new deal cannot be soon agreed.

This should have been sorted in October after he made a goalscoring Premier League debut against Manchester United, the club which was prepared to pay £35millon for his elder brother Sean last summer.

Matty, we know, wants to stay. Speaking in October, the 19-year-old said: “I want to stay. But the biggest thing is just to carry on playing well, and that will take care of itself.”

It hasn’t yet been taken care of, and the future of the midfielder, earning a reserve-team player’s wage while playing Premier League football, is now in doubt.

Bruce seemed to point the finger more at Matty and his representatives when asked about the situation last week.

“It’s a concern for us all,” said Bruce. “But, they’ve got the power these days, the players. I hope there’s a bit of common sense.”

Then there’s Sean, who signed his contract, which keeps him at the club until 2022, BEFORE he had kicked a ball in the Premier League. A new deal has been on the agenda for the 22-year-old since March, when an impressive first-team run was brought to an end by injury.

Rafa Benitez and Alan Pardew, two of Bruce’s managerial predecessors, had some success in resolving contract disputes, but Bruce, up to now, has kept his distance.

Bruce said: “Lee (Charnley, United’s managing director) will deal with that. I really don’t know where they’re up to in terms of that. We always want to keep our best young players, especially if they’re Geordies. Let’s hope they both get tied up.”

Bruce said last month that the club would “concentrate” on contracts once the transfer window closed.

But there has not been any movement – yet. There's slow progress and there’s no progress, and the longer this drags on, the more likely it is that Matty will leave.