AFTER collecting ten points from the last 15 available to climb within touching distance of the Premier League’s top five, Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce is determined to keep everyone’s feet on the ground on Tyneside.

After the trials and tribulations of his first four months in charge at St James’ Park, when the majority of supporters were left uninspired by his appointment, and the crushing 5-0 defeat at Leicester City at the end of September, Bruce can smile as he enters the November international break.

He has every right to be too. The proud Geordie has given Newcastle every chance of enjoying a positive season after a decent start to a campaign most feared would start and end dreadfully. Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth was achieved in style.

While there are still 26 matches remaining, Newcastle are in a healthy position after 12 matches having climbed seven points above the Premier League’s relegation zone and they are now just two points shy of Sheffield United sitting on 17 points in fifth.

“Did I expect to be two points off fifth at this stage? No. Not with the games we have played,” said Bruce. “After nine games we had played the top six, and Leicester. The Premier League is full of tough teams, good players. Wolves, Watford, every team has good players. That is how difficult it is.

“I was delighted for everyone concerned when I walked down the tunnel at the end of the (Bournemouth) game. If you were a Geordie going home you’ll be happy.”

While Bruce came in for severe criticism after losing heavily at Leicester, he has managed to pull his players together and come up with a system that seems to suit this crop. In particular, while goals remain a problem for the attacking trio, Allan Saint-Maximim and Miguel Almiron are shining in support of striker Joelinton.

“It was how do I get the best out of them, what we have got?” said Bruce. “It was how we get the best out of Allan, Miguel and Joelinton. They are new to the English league, practically a different team to what we had. I am delighted we are doing OK and that is all we are doing. It is important to keep a level.”

Saint-Maximim was the pick of the three against Bournemouth, although he was let down by his finishing on a couple of occasions.

Saint-Maximim hit the bar in the first half when he was faced with just goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to beat, while he was thwarted again after the restart in similar circumstances.

The £17m buy has adapted to the top-flight in England and looks like he will only get better, and his relationship with wing-back Jetro Willems down that side is flourishing already in the early stages of both players’ career in the North-East.

Bruce said: “With Allan you can’t coach, he just has that natural talent. The thing is, what he has to work on is how to define a simple pass occasionally, that comes with experience.  “When you have what he has got, you just want to be able to finish. That is what we have to work on and what we will work on. Some of his play, his dribbling ability, I said when I first seen him that he will get people off their feet.

“Jetro, he is different. He is quiet, unassuming, they are totally different characters. Technically he played for Holland when he was 18 so he has something about him. I spoke to Ronald Koeman in the summer about him and it was all positive. It has given him a new lease of life coming here, he is enjoying the Premier League and that is vitally important to get better.”

Just because Newcastle have impressed Bruce is not about to start shifting the club’s aims. After the departure of Rafa Benitez in the summer, Premier League safety was always the main aim and still is. The Newcastle boss does not want to start thinking too differently now ahead of a 16-day break until the head to Aston Villa on November 25.

“I don’t think I have set any target,” said Bruce. “I want to finish as high as we can. I want us to improve, get better, take the club forward. For me it has always been that.  “Let’s be fair this club has been relegated twice in the last ten years. It has only been two years since it was out of the Championship. Look at Bournemouth, how long have they been out, five, six years? It’s an accumulation of years which gives you a better squad, better players.  “Can I take this club forward? That has always been my aim. When I have witnessed the tough times that we have had over the last few weeks, it was all worthwhile today because the crowd were right behind us which was good to see.”

There was none tougher than the mood he encountered during and after that defeat at Leicester. The Foxes’ form and threatening to become contenders for the title has perhaps altered how that result should be viewed now, particularly as Isaac Hayden was sent off that day.  “Let’s be fair, I have never said this, Leicester are a good side,” said Bruce. “A very good side. It is hard enough with 11 players and for periods of the first half an hour there I was pleased with us. I changed us and maybe we weren’t ready for that at that time.  “In management I think it is always your darkest when you take a beating like that. Over the years it is how you respond and how do you react to being beaten by five? You have to rely on experience and you want your team to respond. The response against Bournemouth was clear for everyone to see.”

Newcastle’s ability to come from behind to win after Bournemouth had taken a 14th minute lead through Harry Wilson did come at a cost because captain Jamaal Lascelles had to be replaced early with a knee injury.

He suffered the problem when he was shoved into goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the opening minutes by Callum Wilson, and Paul Dummett did a good job in slotting in and replacing him. Newcastle should have Florian Lejeune available after the break, and Bruce admits he has a tough task on his hands keeping his defenders happy.

“I thought Ferderico Fernandez, I understand because I am a centre-back, was terrific,” said Bruce. “All of them were really. Dummett you could see when he came on how we well he did. We have six of them, I don’t think I will play them up front!

“The one thing you want is competition and Ciaran Clark, who was questioning not being picked in the squad recently, shows how things can change. Like today I have left out Javier Manquillo and Yoshinori Muto, it’s the difficult part, and Ciaran has had to wait for his chance. 

“He is the perfect example. He works hard every day and when you see someone like him hitting the winner from where he was six weeks ago, not even travelling, is great and highlights to every player how things can change.”