Are Newcastle United in a relegation scrap with Sheffield United? Steve Bruce has his say

Bruce’s side take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening, 15th in the Premier League – and eight points above the relegation zone – after taking two points from a five-game run which saw them take on three of the top five.

The former United and Wednesday manager believes that’s a “healthy cushion” over the bottom three. Asked if the club was in a relegation scrap with 16 games played, United’s head coach said: “No. At the moment we have a nice healthy cushion to the bottom three.

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"If we’d gone in the bottom three, then I’d say ‘maybe’. We knew this would be a tough run of fixtures. We’re in that run where we have to get out of it.”

Newcastle, knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal at the weekend, took on Liverpool, Leicester City and Manchester City over the festive period.

“It doesn’t come any tougher than the run we’ve had,” said Bruce. “We’ve to score a goal and win a game. You’re judged by results, and, at the moment, we haven’t had enough good ones. The fixture schedule has been unkind, but that’s the Premier League.

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"We have to go there with a mentality to win it.”

On taking on United, Bruce said of Chris WIlder’s side’s form this season: “It proves how difficult the Premier League is. They took it by storm last year, and were in the top six at Christmas. Sheffield United, although they prop up the table, are a very good side still. We’ll have to be at our best to beat them.”