‘See what tomorrow brings’ – Bruce hoping for squad boost ahead of Leeds clash
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce is hoping that he can welcome two first-team players back to his squad for Wednesday’s game against Leeds United.
The Magpies were missing several squad members as they beat West Brom 2-1 on Saturday with many first-team players wiped out by the coronavirus in the past two weeks.
Bruce is hoping that more of his players will provide negative COVID tests in the coming days to give his side a boost ahead of the trip to Elland Road.
Bruce is quoted by Leeds Live as saying, “We’re hoping that we get a couple of negative results and a couple of more players (back).
“We’ll see. We’ve still got far too many at this particular moment. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. The last two (tests), we’ve been negative, so let’s hope we’ve caught it, and got rid of it.”
Key players Callum Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey and Karl Darlow all featured in Saturday’s win against the Baggies but the Magpies were lacking defensive options.
Ciaran Clark was the only recognised centre back in the squad as he was partnered by midfielder Isaac Hayden in the heart of the Newcastle defence.
Captain Jamal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez, who have been mainstays in Bruce’s backline this season, didn’t even make the bench and it would come as a huge boost to Leeds if these first-team players remained on the sidelines.
Mercurial winger Allan Saint-Maximin also didn’t make the squad and his absence would certainly come as a boost to the Leeds fullbacks.
West Brom barely tested Newcastle’s defence on Saturday and they still managed to score, sustained pressure from Bamford and Co could mean that Leeds will have a field day against Bruce’s makeshift backline.
We will see which players Bruce welcomes back for Wednesday’s Premier League clash but any notable absentees will provide a boost for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
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