'It’s going to annoy the fans, and it’s going to get you the sack' - Adrian Durham fires frank warning to Newcastle boss Bruce

The 60-year-old has come in for intense scrutiny following last week’s 1-0 defeat to bottom side Sheffield United – a result that saw the Magpies boss vow to change the way that his side is set up.

Bruce initially looked to have stuck to his word against Arsenal on Monday night too, starting the match with two strikers and a four-man defence.

Another lacklustre showing and a 3-0 loss did little alleviate growing frustrations among many supporters, however, and Durham believes that it is time for the Toon manager to go all out with an attacking charm offensive.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the outspoken host said: “I think he’s let survival get into his head.

"I kind of understand it, it’ll have been the mantra at Newcastle from those above him saying, ‘We cannot get relegated’.

"That’s got into his head, but if he comes out of that a little bit and thinks about the fans, they will have him close to their hearts if he tries to play some really good football and tries to entertain them. He needs to get to that level of thinking.

"He needs to get to that place where he’s fan-focused, rather than Mike Ashley-focused, and he’s trying to play some good football.

"Leaving all those exciting, attacking players on the bench when you go to Sheffield United because that’s going to do two things – it’s going to annoy the fans, and it’s going to get you the sack.

"What is he doing? Just try and please the fans, and then when you get the sack, which is inevitable at Newcastle anyway, the fans will say, ‘You know what? It didn’t work out for him, we didn’t win anything, but I love the way he tried to get us playing good football’.

"Wouldn’t that be something?”

Newcastle are winless in their last nine matches across all competitions, and are currently 15th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.