LEE CHARNLEY held a debriefing session with Steve Bruce in the immediate aftermath of Newcastle United’s weekend thrashing at Leicester City – but the Magpies managing director is determined to avoid any kneejerk reactions that might put the head coach’s position at risk.

While Charnley and Mike Ashley are concerned at the club’s start to the season, with Sunday’s capitulation having left Newcastle in 19th position in the table, there is no desire at this stage to countenance a change of manager.

Bruce will be given every opportunity to turn things around, with Charnley keen to avoid a rerun of this summer’s protracted managerial search, which saw a number of prospective bosses turn down the option of a move to St James’ Park.

However, with the delayed decision to sack Steve McClaren having contributed to Newcastle’s relegation in 2016, there is also an acknowledgment that the situation cannot be allowed to drift indefinitely.

The Magpies have still only won one game this season – August’s surprise success at Tottenham – and their next two matches either side of the international break pit them against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Having watched Newcastle crash to their heaviest defeat since 2015 on Sunday, Charnley held a face-to-face discussion with Bruce at the King Power Stadium prior to the departure of the Magpies’ team coach.

Bruce’s fury at his players’ failings was evident from his impassioned performance at the post-match press conference, and having delivered some harsh words in the dressing room, the Newcastle boss gave his first-team squad the day off yesterday in an attempt to clear their minds.

They will reassemble at the club’s Darsley Park training ground this morning to begin their preparations for the Manchester United game, and Bruce is expressed to address Sunday’s performance directly before his players take to the training field.

In fairness to Newcastle’s players, the majority fronted up to the media on Sunday evening, and pulled no punches as they assessed their shortcomings.

“It was terrible,” admitted Andy Carroll, who came off the bench for the final half-an-hour. “The second half was abysmal. The first half, we did alright, but the second half, we didn’t come out at all. When the second goal went in, our heads went down and we gave up, basically.

“You saw the heads went down, and then it was three, four, they were sloppy goals. They were all mistakes – it’s not good enough for us.

“There were some very strong words (from the manager), he was disappointed, and so he should be. So should we be. We should hang our heads in shame, the whole lot of us. We were terrible. We were not like that in training, so we shouldn’t be like that on a weekend.”

Sean Longstaff was equally scathing in his criticism, expressing sympathy for the travelling supporters, who provided the soundtrack to the second half despite the desultory efforts of the players in black-and-white on the field.

“It’s embarrassing,” said Longstaff, who will be without his most recent midfield partner for the next three games after the FA confirmed Isaac Hayden’s three-match suspension for his dismissal at the weekend. “It’s f***ing embarrassing. Sorry for swearing, but it is.

“There’s nothing really much else to say other than it’s embarrassing. The away fans travelled again, and we should never put them in the position where they’re in a stadium cheering just for the sake of it.

“We’ve got to be much, much better than that. It’s a massive wake-up call, if there hadn’t been (one) already. Hopefully, there’s no more days like that to come.”