United duo set for return, says Bruce

Newcastle travel to Elland Road (kick-off 6pm GMT) for their first top-flight encounter against Leeds since January 2004 and search for a third successive league win after victories against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.

Bruce has been welcomed by the return of defender Federico Fernández, who sat out the Magpies' 2-1 win against the Baggies on Saturday after testing positive for Covid-19, while Fraser returns from the sidelines after the Scotland international picked up a hamstring injury last month. 

"Fernández has tested negative and he is back," Bruce said. "The big thing we are seeing from Saturday is fatigue so we'll see how it has left them but I'm going to make changes.

"We were very light in that department which was unfortunate. It seemed to be defenders where our big problems were but I have to say the performance of Isaac (Hayden) was terrific. That always gives me food for thought that he can play there at a very good level. 

"Ryan Fraser is OK. He's trained for the past week and a bit and it has obviously been interrupted with the time we had away from the training ground (due to Covid-19) but he is fully fit and ready to go. He will be involved." 

United are set for a busy Christmas period, playing five Premier League fixtures in the space of three weeks along with the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Championship outfit Brentford on Tuesday, 22nd December.

Bruce admitted he may be forced into rotating his Magpies squad ahead of the hectic winter schedule but heavily commended those who featured in last weekend's hard-fought victory against West Brom after dealing with the closure of their Benton-based training ground at the beginning of the week due to a Covid-19 outbreak.

He added: "We're going to have to monitor that and approach it in the right way. The response from the players to get the win at the weekend was absolutely terrific under difficult circumstances.

"I hadn't seen them for ten days and the first time we trained together was on Wednesday. People were having to get out of bed to come and play so their attitude to get a result was there for everyone to see.

"Down the line, we'll have to monitor the whole situation. It's difficult to manage because one thing you want is a full, fit, healthy squad and we don't have that at the moment." 

Newcastle face all three promoted sides within the space of a week, with Fulham to follow the Magpies' clash in Yorkshire.

Bruce was full of praise for last season's Championship winners and, whilst Marcelo Bielsa's side have gone five home games without a win, remains aware of the threat the Whites possess.

"We've all been impressed with Leeds and Fulham now look like a different outfit to what they were," Bruce said. "They're difficult games like they all are but we have given ourselves a really good platform going into Christmas which is always a difficult period. We've started quite well so let's hope we can do the same again.

"Physically as a team they're number one in the Premier League. They have the ability to run long distances very quickly and that's something Bielsa has brought into them. He's top class coach and manager.

"It's no surprise to me because they did that in the Championship. They've blown teams away doing that and we have to be ready for that challenge."

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Steve Bruce's pre-Leeds media briefing in full