Andros Townsend told talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday morning that it’s a ‘normal thing’ for Premier League players to get six-days off amid claims Steve Bruce has done just that at Newcastle.
The Crystal Palace winger claimed that the Newcastle fans have been ‘misled’ by journalists about how they have reported the number of days Bruce has given his players off.
The Daily Mail previously claimed that some Newcastle players are ‘shocked’ Bruce hasn’t been sacked yet amid those claims about training.
But Crystal Palace winger Townsend, who spent six months at St James’ Park, weighed in on those Bruce claims.
“What I would say on that Bruce thing is that’s a minimum,” said Townsend. “Every other club gave at least six days, so the fact that Steve Bruce is getting stick for giving his side a well-deserved. I say well-deserved because it’s been five games in 19 days.
“Then the aim is for everyone to go into the last 9-10 games fully refreshed and ready to go. They still have two or two-and-a-half weeks between games. He gave them six days off to kind of refresh, recover and get players back from injury.
“Then he still has two weeks or just under two weeks to prepare for nine cup finals for them. Unfortunately, it’s been blown out of proportion and the fans have been misled by the reporting from journalists.
“They don’t know what’s going on at football clubs. I know every football club has given their players at least six days off, so for me, that’s a normal thing. The fans feel like Steve Bruce doesn’t care. He wants to get sacked. Whereas, we know that’s not the case.”
Newcastle are heading in one direction and that’s back to the Championship.
If the Magpies, somehow, survive then Fulham and West Brom will kick themselves that they didn’t manage to capitalise on their demise.
But whatever happens, Newcastle fans are not having Bruce as their manager because it has been one disastrous appointment.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
