Michael Chopra has changed his mind on Newcastle manager Steve Bruce

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Steve Bruce has turned around Newcastle United’s fortunes with four points in their last two Premier League games against Tottenham and Watford.

Michael Chopra has praised Steve Bruce after a much improved couple of performances from his new-look Newcastle United, speaking to the Shields Gazette.

A matter of weeks ago, Newcastle were in crisis. Inspired by a Teemu Pukki hat-trick, Norwich City battered Bruce’s side at Carrow Road and former Magpies striker Chopra certainly stuck the boot in during an interview with talkSPORT (20 August, 9:00am).

Chopra took aim at the ‘disgusting’ attitude of the Newcastle players but that was only the tip of the iceberg. The 35-year-old then claimed that he had been told by insiders at St James’ Park that the players were not happy with Bruce’s methods – accusations that the former Sunderland boss described as ‘complete lies’.

Since then, Newcastle have looked far more well-drilled, following up a brilliant 1-0 win away at Tottenham with a hard-fought comeback against Watford which showed the character and quality at Bruce’s disposal.

No wonder Chopra has softened his stance a little.

“You look at the performance against Norwich,” he said. “It wasn’t up to scratch. It was a disgrace. It was the attitude. Fair enough losing, but at least give the effort.

“(But) you could see a totally different Newcastle United against Tottenham. Whether Steve Bruce and his coaching staff had worked on something in training … you could see something had been done on the training pitch.

“The team shape, the players knew their positions, their jobs. That’s what got them a result.”

Newcastle appear to be sticking to the three-man defence that worked so well for Bruce in pre-season and The Magpies looked far more secure at the back against Tottenham in particular with Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett producing heroic performances.

Joelinton, meanwhile, scored his first Newcastle goal in that game and, if Bruce manages to get the best out of the enigmatic Miguel Almiron, there’s no reason why they cannot push up the table.