The recently appointed Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has asked the club's fans to "give me a chance" saying that he will do his "utmost" throughout his tenure to improve the team.

Bruce has taken over the reins at St James' Park following the departure of Rafa Benitez, who left after three-years at the end of his contract in June, saying the club "did not share the same vision".

The 58-year-old's first competitive game in charge is away at Arsenal on the opening weekend of this season's Premier League.

Speaking to NUFC TV, Bruce said, “to be given the opportunity now, I’m like every other Geordie now, I’ve lived the dream if you can’t play for them then of course if you’re a Geordie what better thing than to take the number one seat?

"I’m delighted to be given the opportunity, I’ll do my best, I know in some people’s eyes I’m not Rafa and I understand there are big shoes to fill but believe me I’ll give it everything I possibly can and hopefully prove the doubters wrong.

“The easy thing for me would have been to say no, but at my stage in my career now – back a few years ago I regretted it – that regret lingered around me for years when Sir Bobby left so to be given the opportunity again is something I simply had to take it.

“I had to grasp it, I knew it was going to be difficult. I just hope that people show the respect which obviously you only gain by getting a few results and doing the job but hopefully that’ll go hand in hand.”

It is reported that Newcastle are trying to buy Hoffenheim striker Joelinton, to replace Ayoze Perez and Solomon Rondon who left earlier in the summer, Steve Bruce said, "we’re short in that little area so we’re working on that but the squad is littered with some very, very good players and that’s why it’s been able to stay in the Premier League.”