Steve Bruce calls Newcastle players in on their day off after miserable defeat to Norwich as record signing Joelinton remains an injury doubt

By Craig Hope for The Mail on Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Steve Bruce has told his Newcastle players to report for training on Sunday morning in the wake of their abject 3-1 defeat at Norwich.

Sportsmail understands the plan was for the players to have Sunday off but Bruce has now called them in, so annoyed was he with their performance at Carrow Road.

And the Newcastle boss is sweating on the fitness of £40million striker Joelinton after he suffered a hip injury in the second half.

Steve Bruce was far from impressed with what he saw from his players against Norwich

Steve Bruce has made his Newcastle players to report for training on Sunday - their day off

The problems are mounting for Bruce and he must now wait for the results of a scan after Joelinton was forced off in obvious discomfort.


'He has a hip injury,' said Bruce. 'We will do X-rays and scans, let's hope it's not too serious. He's sore. He's taken a nasty one to the side.'

Joelinton had missed a glorious chance to put his side in the lead in the first half and did not enjoy a happy afternoon.

The Toon stars were left red-faced and dejected following a 3-1 defeat to new boys Norwich

The Toon stars were left red-faced and dejected following a 3-1 defeat to new boys Norwich

But Bruce said: 'I won't criticise individuals. He got caught in the team effort and that simply wasn't good enough.'

Bruce is already without forward Dwight Gayle, who has a calf problem, and £16m winger Allan Saint-Maximin was missing here after picking a hamstring injury during the week.

Added to that Bruce did not name midfielder Sean Longstaff in his starting line-up amid lingering concerns over the effects of a knee injury suffered in March.

'I'm trying to protect the lad,' said Bruce. 'He's had a serious injury. His first game back was only four weeks ago. He's had a wonderful rise but the injury has affected him, so I have to protect him.'

Salt was rubbed into the wounds as record signing Joelinton picked up a hip injury

Salt was rubbed into the wounds as record signing Joelinton picked up a hip injury

Newcastle have lost their first two games and travel to Spurs next weekend with many supporters already questioning the new manager.

Bruce himself admits he was at a loss to explain why his players performed so poorly at Norwich.

'If I knew the answer (to why) then of course I would have changed something,' he said. 'They are not bad players, but you have to apply yourself better than what we did today.'

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