Newcastle United were shaping up for a season to forget under Steve Bruce.

Indeed, St James’ Park has had to endure some boring and dull football this term as they’ve watched their side score just 24 league goals in 28 games.

However, as much as Bruce’s football has been mind-numbingly poor at times, it’s been somewhat effective as Newcastle sit 14th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone.

With ten games to go, United are eight points away from the magic 40 point marker that usually signifies a team’s safety from relegation, and with that many matches to play, you have to fancy them to get there.

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However, Premier League survival would only represent the status quo being maintained, and it’s not really a reason to get excited anymore, but they do have a real chance of making this season one to remember with their FA Cup exploits.

The Magpies had never gone past the fourth round of the world’s oldest football cup competition during Mike Ashley’s tenure before this season, but all of a sudden they find themselves in a quarter-final.

The St James' Park outfit are just 90 minutes away from a first visit to the new Wembley in the FA Cup, and even if they didn’t win the semi-final, that would still be a historic moment for the club.

Of course, there is the small matter of getting past Manchester City to attend to, but the Magpies have caused them problems before, holding Pep Guardiola's men to a 2-2 draw this season and actually beating them 2-1 last term.

However, they will find it much harder to get the victory if they decide to rotate their squad.

Bruce should put out the strongest team he can possibly field in the cup from now on. The Tyneside club haven’t won any silverware since the 1969 European Fairs Cup, and this is their best chance in over a decade to end that barren run.

Bruce has been villainised this season by the fanbase, with criticism coming in on almost a weekly basis from the supporters, but he can surpass the achievements of legendary managers like Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan by bringing silverware to St James’ Park for the first time in over 50 years.

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We don’t want to see the second-stringers line up against Man City on March 21st in order to rest key players for their clash against Bournemouth a fortnight later.

Bruce simply has to prioritise the cup.

In other news, one position could give Steve Bruce a headache in the summer.