Steve Bruce “The easy thing would have been for me to say no…”
Steve Bruce stepped off the plane in China earlier today.
Then headed straight to the training ground with his assistants Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence.
Ben Dawson and Neil Redfearn took the training session, whilst Steve Bruce and his assistants were mainly just observing.
After that training session, the new Head Coach spoke about why he took the job and the challenge that faced him.
Steve Bruce says that ‘The easy thing would have been for me to say no…’ but that he regretted saying no when Graeme Souness ended up with the job after Sir Bobby left back in 2004, saying now ‘it is something I simply had to take’…
He clearly doesn’t seem to underestimate the challenge ahead: ‘I know in some people’s eye I’m not Rafa and I understand that, there’s big shoes to fill. But believe me, I will give it everything I possibly can and hopefully prove the doubters wrong.’
With nine weeks of the transfer window gone and only three remaining, no guesses for where Newcastle are most short: ‘…of course we’re aware we’ve lost Rondon and Jose (Ayoze Perez). So we are short in that little area, so we are working on that.’
Joelinton is claimed to be an imminent signing but no news as yet.
However, more immediately, Steve Bruce has confirmed that in the striker department things are looking even worse at the minute, the Head Coach revealing Dwight Gayle has a calf injury.
Both he and Dubravka were missing from the squad against Wolves yesterday, whilst for whatever reason(s), Dummett, Schar and Sean Longstaff didn’t get off the bench.
Steve Bruce speaking to NUFC TV:
“I’m like every other Geordie, I’ve lived the dream – If you can’t play for them if you are a Geordie, then what better than to take the number one seat.
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity, I will do my best.
“I know in some people’s eye I’m not Rafa and I understand that, there’s big shoes to fill. But believe me, I will give it everything I possibly can and hopefully prove the doubters wrong.
“The easy thing would have been for me to say no…but at this stage of my career now…back a few years ago I regretted it (not taking the job). I regretted it and it lingered around me for years when Sir Bobby left (and Graeme Souness got the job).
“So to be given the opportunity again, it is something I simply had to take.
“I had to grasp it, I knew it was going to be difficult. I just hope that people show the respect which you obviously only by getting a few results and doing the job.
“When you get the call, the first thing you look at is the squad and of course we’re aware we’ve lost Rondon and Jose (Ayoze Perez). So we are short in that little area, so we are working on that.
“But the squad is littered with some very good players.
“That’s why it has been able to stay in the Premier League and it is now my job to move us forward.
“If there’s anybody struggling a bit (for Saturday) then we won’t risk it.
“Dwight Gayle unfortunately got a bit of a calf (injury), so he is a big worry.
“So we will pick a team (against West Ham) and see we can do.”
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