Newcastle United wait on key decision as fans hope for return

The club has played its games behind closed doors since the Premier League’s summer restart.

However, teams in areas where there are tier two coronavirus restrictions have been able to welcome back 2,000 fans – and there are hopes that the North East could move out of tier three before the December 19 home game against Fulham following a fall in infection rates in the region.

United have drawn up plans to allow that number of supporters inside St James’s Park, which last hosted fans in late February.

Bruce has keenly watched games which have had fans back inside stadiums since the new rules were imposed following the country’s second national lockdown.

Asked about the possible return of some supporters for the Fulham game, Newcastle’s head coach said: “Let’s hope so.

"I didn’t think it would make a bit of a difference, but when I saw Liverpool the other night, and (Jurgen) Klopp saying it makes a difference, and then I watched Norwich, and then I saw the Arsenal derby (against Tottenham Hotspur).

"I hope that we can get a couple of thousand, and the work that everybody’s done in the North East in getting rid of the (rising) infection rate, I hope that on the 16th we can go into tier two, not just so we can fans back in the stadium – that would be great – but also for people over this festive period.”

Newcastle beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Saturday.