'What have you been doing?' - Martin Keown outlines 'massive problem' facing Steve Bruce

The Toon Army are currently on a run of nine matches without a win in all competitions – a slump that has led to heightened scrutiny surrounding Bruce's role at the club.

Following defeat against bottom club Sheffield United earlier this month, the 60-year-old vowed to start doing things his way on Tyneside, but Keown has admitted that he was left somewhat baffled by the manager’s comments.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “There’s no wins in nine games. What is it – two draws, seven defeats, four goals?

"It's a massive problem for him. He’s under real pressure.

"I just find it very unusual to hear a manager say, ‘I’ve been here 18 months and from now on it’s going to be my way’. I don’t quite get it.

"What have you been doing for the last 18 months? Has it been what your players wanted? Has it been what your staff wanted?

"He’s tried to create a change, but the thing that troubles me most is their style of play. When I watch them, the identity of the team – I see that in other teams, but I don’t see it in Newcastle.

"Often, they change their system to suit the opposition.

"Wilson coming in up top was a good addition for them, Saint-Maximin being ill with Covid has been a big problem, but there’s still decent players in the group. For me, they need to create a style of play, and they actually need to try and play some football to progress through the compartments of the team.

"At the moment, I don’t really see that. He has to do something big now to turn this around.”

Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Bruce sought to clarify what he meant when he vowed to start doing things his way.

He said: "So what my way is is to try and get 20, 30 yards higher up the pitch. That’s what I meant by ‘my way’.