Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce is looking to strengthen in two key positions come the January transfer window, according to The Chronicle.
The newspaper claims that the Magpies boss wants to sign a new winger and a mobile central midfielder, while he is aware that this is only the start of his time in charge of the club.
Miguel Almiron has failed to spark into life under Bruce, while Allan Saint-Maximin has had injury problems, hence the targeting of a winger.
Meanwhile, Bruce presumably wants someone with more legs in the middle of the park.
OPINION
This is interesting, because Bruce obviously strengthened his options on the wing with Saint-Maximin in the summer. However, with Almiron not truly firing, perhaps he wants somebody else who can come in and start alongside Joelinton and Saint-Maximin if the Paraguay international continues to disappoint. With the 22-year-old having injury problems thus far in his Magpies tenure, as well, it makes sense for Bruce to look for someone with a bit more quality than Christian Atsu as his only option behind his starting wingers. As for a more mobile central midfielder, it looked like Bruce found that with Matty Longstaff against Manchester United on Sunday. The two Longstaff brothers had plenty of energy and were able to get up and down the pitch, while Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-yueng give Bruce something a bit different, as well. The younger Longstaff certainly provided mobility on Sunday, but perhaps Bruce feels it’s too early to lean entirely on him.
