Steve Bruce's relegation warning and Bruno Fernandes claim

Steve Bruce has been warned he will lead Newcastle United to relegation unless he change his defensive 'mindset'.  Elsewhere, former Magpies boss Rafa Benitez has revealed he pushed for a move for Bruno Fernandes before his Manchester United switch.  Here are your top Newcastle United stories for January 16: Bruce asked on fans' fury  Steve Bruce has always claimed to be a boyhood fan of Newcastle United - but despite the club's struggles this season he has insisted he would not turn his back on the club.  The defeat to Sheffield United proved to be another tipping point for some fans as a "Bruce Out" banner was tied to the gates outside St James' Park shortly after the final whistle.  Bruce was asked if he would pay - either through the turnstile or to view via TV - to watch the struggling Magpies. Cascarino's warning  Newcastle United will be relegated from the Premier League unless Steve Bruce changes his negative 'mindset'.  That is the view of former Republic of Ireland and Marseille forward Tony Cascarino who believes the Newcastle boss is in a 'great position' to change the Magpies' style of play.  United currently hold a seven point gap between themselves and the bottom three but with the club languishing towards the bottom of the Premier League standings for almost every attacking metric, Cascarino has warned that relegation is inevitable at some stage unless that changes. 'Sliding' to relegation  Newcastle United are 'sliding quickly' towards relegation from the Premier League.  That is the verdict of former Arsenal and England star Paul Merson who believes Newcastle's players would have been 'absolutely shredded' by supporters for recent performances, had the Toon Army been inside the grounds.  The United manager admitted he got his team selection wrong in hindsight and while Merson had criticism for that, he also had criticism for Newcastle's players - suggesting they are 'playing on the strength that they won't be relegated', given the seven point gap between themselves and the bottom three. Keown's verdict  Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown has issued a brutal response to Steve Bruce's recent comments about his Newcastle United players.  Newcastle travel to Arsenal on Monday looking to reverse a run of eight matches without a win, scoring just one goal from open play in that time.  And Premier League winner Keown believes Bruce can't 'detach himself' from his side's woeful form, suggesting Newcastle are now a club 'going to war'. Dyer's bizarre claim  Newcastle United fans were already upset with Steve Bruce for managing Sunderland and that is why the Magpies boss has come in for stick.   That is the verdict of former United midfielder Kieron Dyer who believes the Newcastle boss showed rivals Sunderland a level of respect the Toon Army would never resort to.  Magpies fans have long held genuine concerns about the club's style of play, with United near the bottom of the Premier League standings for almost ev