MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 12:43:22| >> :60:1643:1643:
[monks data]
Newcastle logo
Premier League | Gameweek 30
Jun 21, 2020 at 2pm UK
St. James' Park
Sheffield United logo

Newcastle
3 - 0
Sheff Utd

Saint-Maximin (55'), Ritchie (69'), Joelinton (78')
Joelinton (31'), Lascelles (70')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Egan (31')

Steve Bruce challenges Newcastle players to ignore takeover talk

Steve Bruce challenges Newcastle players to ignore takeover talk
© Reuters
The Magpies are awaiting a decision from the Premier League.

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce has ordered his players not to use ongoing takeover speculation as an excuse as they prepare to return to Premier League action.

The Magpies welcome Sheffield United to St James' Park on Sunday, their first taste of competitive action since they won 1-0 at Southampton on March 7.

They will do so with owner Mike Ashley and the club's fans still awaiting a decision from the Premier League on a largely Saudi-funded £340million takeover bid brokered by Amanda Staveley with a second potential buyer, American Henry Mauriss, having tabled his own offer.

That could have major repercussions for Bruce and his players, but the 59-year-old has told his troops to focus on football and nothing else.

Amanda Staveley is behind the takeover bid
Amanda Staveley is behind the takeover bid (Owen Humphreys/PA)

He said: "We can't influence anything that's happening above us at boardroom level.

"What we can't do is make it an excuse. There's obviously something rumbling along, we're all aware of that, and let's just focus ourselves on the game on Sunday, the game on Wednesday, the cup-tie the following weekend.

"Let's not make it a distraction or an excuse, let's get stuck into it and see where we can finish."

The Magpies head into the game sitting in 13th place in the table and eight points clear of the relegation zone, but top-flight survival remains the overwhelming priority.

Bruce said: "Look, we've still got a lot to do, in my opinion. We've got to secure our Premier League status – that has been my objective since I walked through the door, that's absolutely paramount for a club of our size.

"We've got ourselves in a decent position, that's all it is. We've got nine to play, we've got five out of the bottom six to play, so it's all to play for, as they say."

The unscheduled break in proceedings has allowed several players to recover from long-term injuries, including first-choice keeper Martin Dubravka, although brothers Sean and Matty Longstaff, fellow midfielder Matt Ritchie and striker Dwight Gayle are all doubts.

Matty Longstaff's contract remains a concern for Newcastle
Matty Longstaff's contract remains a concern for Newcastle (Martin Rickett/PA)

Matty Longstaff's situation remains a concern with the 20-year-old out of contract at the end of the season and Italian side Udinese having already registered strong interest, although contract talks on Tyneside are ongoing.

Bruce said: "I've had a couple of conversations with him since we've been back and purely from a football point of view, we're all desperate for him to stay.

"We have offered him a fantastic deal, in my opinion. We hope that he accepts it."

ID:403044: cacheID:403044:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6765:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Joe Gomez in action with Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the FA Cup on January 5, 2020
Read Next:
SM Football Shorts: Premier League gameweek 30 predictions
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!