'History is repeating itself' for ex-Sunderland boss Steve Bruce at rivals Newcastle United

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Villa player Alan Hutton (r) challenges Mohamed Diame of Newcastle during the Sky Bet Championship match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James' Park on February 20, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Scotland international Hutton played under Bruce at Villa Park and speaking to BBC 5 Live he sees similarities in the Magpies’ goalscoring woes, with what he saw first hand in the Midlands.

“I think the way Steve Bruce sets his teams up, there is such a big gap between the midfield and the striker,” said Hutton about a United side who have seen their forwards score just ONCE in the Premier League this season.

“It leaves them isolated, it is difficult and you are asking him to do something spectacular to score a goal.

“Everywhere Steve Bruce has been he has tried to play this formation. When we were at Villa he tried to make us play that way and it didn’t work out – we didn’t get going.”

Hutton continued: “I find it quite difficult for the striker. It is very difficult to play that way.

“I think he has given his main front three a good go at it but it has not quite worked out.

“Maybe it is time to bring one of these [Dwight Gayle, Andy Carroll] in.”

Brazilian Joelinton – a club record £35million buy from the Bundesliga in the summer – is the only United forward to find the back of the net in the top flight.

Yoshinori Muto, who is struggling to tie down a place on the bench at present, has one other goal in the League Cup.