What government's coronavirus TIER 3 rating means for Newcastle United's December 'home' fixtures

Steve Bruce’s Magpies host West Brom on December 12, following on from away games at Crystal Palace and Aston Villa but having been placed in the third tier home fans will NOT be allowed in St James’s Park for that encounter.

The new restrictions, which come into play from Wednesday, December 2, are set to be reviewed every 14 days.

In December United also host Fulham on December 19 and Liverpool on December 28. As yet, no decision has been made on whether fans could attend those games.

Areas named in Tier 2 can allow up to 2,000 fans into stadiums, while those in Tier 1 can facilitate up to 4,000.

Next month Newcastle United travel to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and London for fixtures with all of those places, bar the latter, under Tier 3 restrictions.

All seven of the North East’s local authorities have been placed in Tier 3, meaning games at the likes of Middlesbrough in the Championship and Sunderland in League One are also closed to fans.

Newcastle United fans have not been allowed into St James’s Park since February 29, 2020. That day Bruce’s United played out a 0-0 draw with Sean Dyche’s Burnley in the Premier League. The last game United played with fans in the ground was the Allan Saint-Maximin-inspired win at Southampton’s St Mary’s on March 7, 2020.

On the prospect of a fan return, United boss Bruce said: “I can understand 4,000 fans if there’s an 8,000 stadium. What I can’t understand is why 4,000 when we could get 15 or 20,000 people in. It’s a step in the right direction. It’s a small gesture, but I suppose for the smaller clubs 4,000 or 2,000 is welcome relief. Small numbers, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“I really think that’s an unfair advantage. I’m all for the smaller clubs getting some sort of income. In terms of income it’s neither here nor there with 2,000 or 4,000 in St James’. But for a club down the road like Hartlepool or Darlington, it’s huge for them.”