'He's not going to quit': Former player managed by Steve Bruce gives insight on Newcastle United boss

Bruce is under significant pressure from Magpies fans, with a number of supporters on social media demanding he vacates his role at St James’s Park.

Frustration has grown in United’s fanbase during the last few months and that came to head following the 1-0 defeat to bottom club Sheffield United last night.

Bruce set up his side to play five at the back against a Blades side who hadn’t won a league game all season. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was pretty much untested.

Huddlestone revealed the 60-year-old carried out similar tactics at Hull, but conceded expectations are higher on Tyneside.

And although fan fury continues to mount, Huddlestone supported Bruce’s post-match comments at Bramall Lane about his future.

Huddlestone told Sky Sports’ Football Show: “They’ve had their frustrations with Steve Bruce from him getting the job initially, whether that’s from his Sunderland past or whatever it may be.

“Before the game, Newcastle fans were looking at thinking ‘they haven’t won a game all season, we can maybe be a little more expansive knowing they struggle in front of goal.’

“So for him (Steve Bruce) to go 5-4-1 will be disappointing from a Newcastle point of view. But as Steve said, he’s a fighter, he’s not going to quit - that’s his boyhood club.

“He sets up the team he knows best which isn’t the most expensive. It was similar to us at Hull but we had a lot less expectation.

“We were a newly-promoted team with limited funds and that worked well for us at the time whereas Newcastle is a bigger football club.

“The expectation and demand on style of play is probably a lot higher than teams in the league but the two don’t seem to be coinciding at the moment.”