Steve Bruce: Mike Ashley has been 'very supportive'

Bruce wants to strengthen his attacking options this month, but the club is yet to make a breakthrough in the transfer window.

And United’s head coach, speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s third-round FA Cup replay against Rochdale at St James’s Park, today revealed a planned meeting with Ashley.

“I’m meeting up with the owner in the next couple of days,” said Bruce. “That’s planned. I’ll ask the owner, and we won’t just bring them in for the sake of it. He’s been very supportive of me, I’d expect that.”

Bruce hasn’t met Ashley since last summer, when he was appointed as Rafa Benitez’s successor at Newcastle. The club spent more than £60million in the last transfer window, though this was partly offset by the £30million sale of Ayoze Perez to Leicester City.