Steve Bruce promises Newcastle transfer showdown with Mike Ashley: ‘I am no puppet’ The Magpies’ owner is notoriously reticent to spend big in the transfer market but his manager appears ready for confrontation

Steve Bruce has again insisted that he’s not Mike Ashley’s “puppet” at Newcastle United – as he plans for a transfer summit.

Bruce will stress the need for “one or two” signings in this month’s transfer window when he meets the club’s owner this week.

Bruce – who has a lengthy injury list ahead of tonight’s FA Cup replay against Rochdale at St James’s Park – will point to the impact signing Miguel Almiron had on the team in the second half of last season following his £21million move from Atlanta United.

Asked what his message to Ashley would be, head coach Bruce said: “It’ll be like what I’ve said from day one.

“He was very supportive in the summer. I won’t just bring in people who I don’t think can.

“We’re two or three weeks from having them all fit again. If there’s somebody who can improve us, then I will ask him the question.

“That’s always been the way I’ve tried to work. If you just try and bring in bodies, then it’s pointless.

“My pitch will be ‘if there’s somebody out there, will you try and help us?’. I’m not just going to say to him ‘we have to have X and Y’, and they’re not good enough. And the problem we have at the minute is finding that one who is available, especially in January. For good players, it doesn’t happen very often that you let one out.”

On Almiron, Bruce added: “That’s the type of signing we need. If there’s another similar kid out there, let’s see if we can get them.”

Bruce hasn’t met Ashley since last summer. He said: “[He] just wanted to come in and see if he could give us a hand. It’s encouraging, and he’s been nothing but supportive.

“I’ve just got on with my job, and tried to do the best I can and keep taking the club forward. It’s that bit of quality that we need.”

Rafa Benitez, Bruce’s predecessor, was involved in a number of well-publicised stand-offs with Ashley over transfers and a contract extension.

“In my time here, he has been nothing but supportive, like he was in the summer,” said Bruce.

“He wants to try and help again. He wants to come and have a cup of tea with me, so fine.”

Bruce was unhappy at being labelled Ashley’s “puppet” by some fans following his appointment, which came amid a backlash over the departure of Benitez.

“I certainly don’t want to be labelled that puppet thing again,” said Bruce.

“For me, to take the club forward is all that I want to try and do. I’d rather sacrifice myself than take us down this road where [you say] ‘wow, we’ve got five or six injuries, we need five or six players’.

“We want a bit of quality to take this club forward. If that takes a bit of time, it’ll have to take a bit of time.

“I was aware of people’s thoughts [about being a puppet], but that will never be the case. I’ll never be anybody’s that. I want what’s best for the club. If we can get somebody better, then I will try and ask that question.”

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The 13th-placed club has primarily been looking at the loan market, and RB Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman is one target.

Newcastle passed on the chance to sign Everton striker Cenk Tosun, who last week joined Crystal Palace on loan. There was also interest in Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud, but the striker is set to join Inter Milan.

Asked about loans, Bruce said: “You can have two in this country – and as many as you want from abroad. That’s an option we will try to explore.”