Bolstered by Joe Willock’s arrival and Allan Saint-Maximin’s talent, the manager is looking forward to a full St James’ Park
It is early on Friday morning, Steve Bruce has just been asked about hope and he looks braced for combat.
Can Newcastle’s manager offer the disenchanted and disengaged any reason for optimism? Does he expect to be greeted by rows of empty seats when Newcastle kick off against West Ham at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon? Is he aware that a majority of the fans seem unusually pessimistic about this season’s prospects? Bruce’s body language tenses.