Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool man Stephen Warnock concerned by 'little murmurs' at Newcastle United

Magpies fans are strongly demanding Bruce is sacked after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.

However, Mike Ashley has already come out in support of the 60-year-old, despite the club sitting just two points above the relegation with just two wins in 20 matches.

Reports – specifically from Football Insider – claimed several United players were shocked by Ashley’s support for Bruce, and were considering approaching Lee Charnley directly.

This has left the former Liverpool defender fearful of unrest behind the scenes at St James’s Park.

Warnock told Sky Sports Football Show: "What was interesting yesterday when there was talk he would stay in the job, there were little murmurs and leaks around social media that the Newcastle players weren’t too happy about that.

"Now, when you start to get those little murmurs, that’s a concern for me that there are problems within the changing room and they don’t quite believe in the manager.

"There have been a lot of calls to say he should be replaced by the Newcastle fans. Steve Bruce will still trust himself and think he is the right man to get them out of trouble."

After the international break, Newcastle welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Tyneside before travelling to Burnley a week later.

Then, Bruce’s side face a daunting run of fixtures that includes West Ham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Leicester City and Manchester City.

United end the campaign with a home tie against Sheffield United and what could be a relegation decider on the final day of the season at Craven Cottage.

Warnock added: "With those run of fixtures, when you talk about the Sheffield United game, we don’t know who they might have in charge at that point or whether there might be an upturn in Sheffield United’s fortunes.

"You look it now on paper and say ‘OK, if they were playing them tomorrow, would they beat them?’ I’m not so sure they would. I think they’d struggle.

"This is going to be very interesting at the end of the season.”

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