STEVE BRUCE has attempted to draw a line under another extraordinary week at Newcastle United by insisting the reaction to his training-ground bust-up with Matt Ritchie has been completely overblown.

Bruce has admitted he clashed with Ritchie at Newcastle’s Darsley Park training complex this week, with the midfielder having been unhappy at the way he was singled out for criticism after a breakdown of communication led to Wolves’ equaliser in last weekend’s 1-1 draw.

Ritchie has apologised for his role in the incident, in which Bruce is alleged to have shoulder-barged into him, and as far as the Magpies manager is concerned, the matter is now resolved.

The clash has dominated the news agenda for the last couple of days, but as he looks ahead to Sunday’s crucial game at relegation rivals West Brom, Bruce insists the significance of the incident has been blown out of all proportion.

“There’s no denying that I’ve had a row with Matt Ritchie,” said the Newcastle boss. “But let me tell you, that happens up and down training grounds every other week. You’re dealing with 25 men, emotions run high, they’re fiercely competitive, and these things happen.

“Unfortunately, with Newcastle, it gets blown out of all proportion. Matty apologised, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.

“And as I’ve said, it happens on a regular basis, but ours leaks into the media, which causes the frenzy that at this particular time, with a big game coming up, we could do without. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over, and we get on with it.”

Prior to last weekend’s game with Wolves, Bruce was criticised for the way in which news of Karl Darlow’s demotion leaked out in the media before the goalkeeper was told he was being dropped for Martin Dubravka.

It has been suggested Bruce briefed a journalist about his intention to change goalkeepers, a suggestion he strongly denies.

“I have to say one thing, the story that suggested I would go to a journalist and give them an exclusive that Karl Darlow wouldn’t be playing, I find totally disgusting,” he said. “If I thought I would do that, I would resign tomorrow. It’s simply not true. It’s unfair on Karl, and over the last 18 months, that’s arguably been the most difficult decision I’ve had to make.”

The spark for this week’s clash with Ritchie was a post-match interview in which Bruce accused the Scotsman of failing to pass on the instructions he had been given as he came on to the pitch to replace Emil Krafth.

The subsequent breakdown in communication was dissected in forensic detail by Jamie Carragher on Sky’s Monday Night Football show, and Bruce accepts he should perhaps have been more guarded when he spoke after Saturday’s game.

“You’re asked after the game, and I tried to be truthful about the way I saw the events,” he said. “In hindsight, maybe not (that he did the right thing). But straight after a game, when we’ve just conceded the way we did? Yes, I could have been better in a post-match interview, I accept that.”

There were more negative headlines this morning suggesting that Bruce is granting his players too many days off and failing to adequately prepare for matches. He dismissed that criticism out of hand, claiming the players’ schedule is drawn up in consultation with Newcastle’s medical staff, who are constantly stressing the need for more recovery time given this season’s relentless playing schedule.

“Now it is bordering on ridiculous,” he said. “We set the schedule last month with the doctors and sports scientists. The playing schedule this year has been totally ridiculous – we didn’t have a day off for something like six weeks.

“I don’t even have to respond to that. I just find that an absurd and obscene suggestion. It’s laughable, but it makes a newspaper headline again.”