In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey has backed Steve bruce to keep the Magpies in the Premier League.

Howey admits he can't see Bruce walking away from the job nor does he believe Mike Ashley is going sack him due to the compensation fee he would have to fork out.

Bruce has been adamant that he won't walk away from the challenge of keeping his hometown club in the Premier League, despite being just one point above the relegation zone.

With all the criticism that Ashley gets, Howey claims he is loyal to his managers which leads him to believe the Sports Direct tycoon won't part ways with the manager he prised away from Sheffield Wednesday for four million.

Howey exclusively told FFC that he backs Bruce to be the man at Newcastle during their fight against relegation with 11 games left to play.

"He's the only man. There's going to be no change. Steve's been adamant all the way through that he isn't walking away.

"Since Mike Ashley's been in charge of the club he's only sacked three managers. If there's one thing about Mike Ashley he's kind of loyal because he will stick with the managers.

"The fans are saying he's sticking with Steve Bruce because he'd have to pay him the six-figure fee to get rid of him."

The Magpies find themselves one point and two places above the bottom three with Brighton & Hove Albion set to host Newcastle in two weeks' time - that might be make or break time on Tyneside.

It was reported after the draw against West Bromwich Albion that the club were not ready to pull the plug on Bruce's tenure as manager and had no plans to do so in the near future, which backs up Howey's confidence in there being no change imminent.