Newcastle’s win over Everton on Saturday afternoon brought to an end a torrid run of form which had seen them go 11 games without a win in all competitions.

Steve Bruce’s side had mustered a miserly two goals in nine games prior to Callum Wilson’s brace at Goodison Park, with pressure beginning to grow on owner Mike Ashley to hand boyhood Magpies fan Bruce his marching orders.

The three points at Everton will undoubtedly lift the gloom/fog on the Tyne for now, but regardless of how Newcastle’s season plays out, Bruce has insisted he would never walk away from the club he loves.

„First and foremost of course I am a fan and I always want what’s best for the club,“ he told BT Sport before the game. „I’m determined to tell the supporters that we’ll get out of this bad run we’re having.

„It’s not easy, it’s never going to be easy and it’s never going to be easy for any Newcastle manager because of the great expectation the club has and the unique club it is. I’ll do my utmost to try and turn it round. I’m never going to walk away from it – never. So I’ll keep grinding away and turn it round.“

Speaking prior to his side’s Premier League win at Goodison Park, Bruce rubbished rumours that he was set to be replaced by recently appointed assistant manager Graeme Jones, and he believes the rumours circling the club have been created purely to unsettle him.

„Again that’s negativity,“ he said. „Negativity that surrounds the club and fake news, I’ve used that too often now. Absolute rubbish. Would I really let the club do that to me? Undermine me in that way? I don’t think so. 

„We need to get a result and it’s amazing what that changes round… we hope it’s our turn to start picking up a few wins and that’s what we all need – everybody from the manager to the boardroom to everyone concerned, that’s what we need.“

After watching his side emerge victorious, Bruce’s mood was understandably lifted – and he credited the work his side had put into getting on the front foot, also commenting on an injury picked up captain Jamaal Lascelles.

„That was more like it today,“ Bruce remarked (via Newcastle’s official Twitter page). „We’ve been working on getting on the front foot, getting after the ball better and getting it back higher up. I think the players have enjoyed it but you need a result to go with it so today everybody is happy.

„It’s a hamstring injury. What we have found is the lads that have struggled with Covid have struggled with fatigue. Thankfully Ciaran Clark has come back in today but it looks as if Jamaal will miss at least a good few weeks.“