Newcastle change Bruce pre-match routine but boss set to take charge vs Spurs

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Newcastle United have made a change to Steve Bruce's pre-match routine ahead of this weekend's clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

But the 60-year-old is set to remain in his role as manager for at least one more game as the Magpies welcome Spurs to St. James' Park on Sunday afternoon.

The match is Newcastle's first since the £300million takeover of the club was completed last week by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).

In addition, it will also be Bruce's 1,000th match as a manager after previous spells in charge of Birmingham City, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.

Bruce will hold his pre-match press conference on Friday at 1:30pm, in a change from tradition with the Newcastle boss normally speaking to the media earlier in the day.

This news comes as reports continue to circulate that he is set to be sacked and linking a number of managers with replacing him.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the new board at Newcastle do not want to sack Bruce until they are "100% sure on [a] candidate" to replace him.

Reporting on Twitter, Romano said: “Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is set to face the media tomorrow on press conference.

Who should be the next Newcastle United manager if Steve Bruce is sacked by the new owners? Let us know in the comments section below.

“There’s still no replacement – NUFC board working to appoint new manager but want to be 100% sure on candidate before sacking Bruce.

“Talks will continue in the next hours/days.”

Bruce's dismissal would likely be welcomed by the Toon Army faithful, with 94% of fans saying that they wanted him sacked in a recent supporter survey.

Reports suggesting that Bruce's days as Newcastle gaffer are numbered have intensified since the takeover of the club, but were already circulating due to the side's poor start to the season.

The club currently sit second bottom of the Premier League on three points, without a victory from any of their opening seven matches this season.

This has led to a host of managers being linked with the Newcastle hot seat, including Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Leicester City's Brendan Rodgers.

However, Rodgers is reportedly set to reject any approach for his services, similar to how Antonio Conte ruled himself out of the running for the position last week.

Other names include Lucien Favre, who came close to becoming Crystal Palace manager in the summer, and Ralf Rangnick, who has previously been linked with the England job.

• Steve Bruce
• Premier League
• Newcastle United FC

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