Bruce was sacked after one win in ten matches at the end of his Villa tenure

The last time Steve Bruce was at Villa Park he had a cabbage hurled at him by an irate fan. Now, a year after what he describes as the worst period in his career, the Newcastle United manager returns to the club for the first time since he was sacked over the phone.

Bruce, 58, still has the emotional scars from the abuse he received towards the end of his time at Aston Villa but he can laugh about it now. Asked what kind of reception he was expecting on his return tonight, he replied: “From which end?”

Bruce had a cabbage thrown at him during his last game at Villa

He can joke now. Four months into life at Newcastle and he appears to have common ground with the fans — not least over their dislike of