SUPPORTERS will return to St James’ Park for the first time in more than a year tomorrow – with Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce insisting he is not worried about the reception he will receive.

Around 10,000 Newcastle fans will watch the club’s final home game of the season against Sheffield United, ending an absence that stretches back to the goalless draw with Burnley back in February 2020.

While events on the pitch will be relatively insignificant given that Newcastle have already guaranteed their Premier League survival, what happens in the stands will be of much more interest with tonight’s game offering the most committed members of the Magpies support an opportunity to voice their opinion on the state of the club.

It will be especially interesting to see how they react to Bruce, given that earlier in the season, a poll of around 14,000 fans suggested 95 per cent wanted to see the manager dismissed. Things have changed somewhat since then, with Newcastle having embarked on an improved run of form that has hauled them away from the relegation zone, but anecdotal evidence suggests that misgivings over the manager’s position remain.

Bruce has been aware of the noise surrounding his future all season, but having waited all term to be able to lead out his side in front of fans, he is adamant he is not concerned about what might unfold.

“Do I have anxiety? No, none at all,” said the Newcastle boss. “I’m just delighted they’re back in, whatever kind of reception I get. I’m delighted that the supporters are back in because I know how much it means. It’s been a bloody long time since we’ve played with those supporters.

“You saw it with the FA Cup final at the weekend and the play-off games, it’s a different spectacle straight away, it’s a different sport near enough. I’m delighted they’re back. Come in, let’s go to the pub and have a few beers, and come and support the team. It’s fantastic.”

Like the rest of the footballing world, Bruce and his players have grown accustomed to playing in front of empty stands in the last 12 months.

However, the sight of Leicester’s players celebrating in front of their jubilant fans at the FA Cup final at Wembley at the weekend has whetted the appetite, and tonight’s game represents another step forward to suggest next season could witness much more of a return to normality.

That will change the dynamic at grounds up and down the country, with Bruce insistent that Newcastle have been especially badly handicapped by the requirement to play almost an entire season behind-closed-doors.

“We’ll all say the same thing about how we’ve missed the supporters, but in my experience here in the first season, it’s amazing how many times the supporters dragged us through a game or got us through a game,” he said. “That’s what makes Newcastle unique – that magnificent support, noisy support, that real atmosphere they can create.

“There’s no other set of supporters like it, and it makes our club the unique club that it is. There’s nobody more loyal, the support we get is quite magnificent, and we have missed them. I hope the 10,000 come into the game and roar their team forward – it’ll be great to see.”

Bruce will be urging his players to put on a show in front of their home support, with the club’s last few performances having represented a marked improvement from so many of their displays over the remainder of the campaign.

“I think the fans will be coming to cheer on their team - they’ll have enjoyed watching them of late,” he added. “I think it’s very important that we can put on a performance like we have been. If we can go anywhere near like we did against Leicester or Man City or West Ham, then they’ll enjoy watching their team and enjoy supporting their team.

"That’s very important. It’s great to see them back, and I’m sure they’ll give the team a wonderful reception.”

Bruce accepts there will have to be a marked improvement from January’s abject 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane, a game that represented one of the low points of the campaign.

“That was certainly one of the dark moments of the season,” said the Magpies boss. “I certainly picked the wrong team, so I have to take the full responsibility of that. That was one of the awful parts of the winter.

“Our performance at Sheffield was nowhere near the levels we’re capable of, and rightly so, we didn’t get a result. I’ve got enormous respect for Chris (Wilder) and what he build there. They’re a genuine, honest group of players who have had a wonderful few years. This year it hasn’t quite happened for them, but if we don’t show them the respect they deserve, it’ll be difficult for us.”