Steve Bruce's response when asked where Eddie Howe's Newcastle will finish this season...

Steve Bruce is backing Newcastle United to seal another top-four finish this season, praising our summer spending and positive start to 2023/24.

Speaking to William Hill on the No Tippy Tappy podcast, the former Toon boss feels we'll face added competition from Liverpool and Chelsea; who he expects to be better than they were last term.

However, he "wouldn't be surprised" if Eddie Howe guided Newcastle to the Champions League places once again, feeling our smart recruitment and the 'transformed' atmosphere at St James' Park has put us in good stead once again.

Here's what he had to say when asked where we'd finish by Sam Allardyce:

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Newcastle managed to finish in the top four again this season,” 

“They are going to have more competition for it this year because you would expect Liverpool and Chelsea to both be better than they were last year. I think they have bought really well again and they’ve had a good start to the season, so we’ll have to wait and see.

“St James’ Park has transformed from when I was there. You can see the sell-out crowds and the flags waving and all the rest of it; it’s a really difficult place for anybody to go and get a result.”

After a 5-1 win over Aston Villa was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Man City last weekend, let's hope we can get back to winning ways when Liverpool come to town on Sunday!