In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee has backed Steve Bruce to keep Newcastle United in the Premier League, believing that staying up would have been the target when he took the job.

Bruce has been under immense pressure and criticism since taking the job in 2019 and has to work under an owner who clearly does not want to be at the club anymore.

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Newcastle have been deprived of attractive football and money being put into the club on a consistent base for years now and Lee blames the regression of the Magpies on Mike Ashley rather than Steve Bruce.

Lee told Football Fancast that he wants fans to remember Ashley has forced Newcastle to progressively get worse under his tenure.

He said: "Listen, it's not a regression in 12 months. I'm not having this blaming Steve Bruce for the last 12 months.

"I think it's been regressing for a long, long time. We all know the reason why, we all know the reason is the owner.

"He puts enough money in to keep it in the Premier League and I'm sure when Steve Bruce went in his remit would have been to stay in the Premier League.

"I think he'll do that. I genuinely think he'll do that."

With an owner who is seemingly happy for Newcastle to finish 17th every season and a manager who has a record of keeping teams in the league, there may be room for optimism about the Magpies staying up.

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Bruce will not be every Newcastle fans' cup of tea but if he keeps them in the Premier League, it will seem like a job well done to the hierarchy.