Steve Bruce sees wish come true but Newcastle’s spirits may wreak havoc | Jonathan Wilson

While the Magpies’ manager is a returning local hero, he is an underwhelming appointment that smacks of appeasement

O nce upon a time, perhaps, many years ago when he was still a teenager living in Walker, east of the centre of Newcastle, Steve Bruce found a mysterious old lamp. It was dusty and so he gave it a polish and, as he rubbed it, there was a flash and a bang and a puff of smoke. A great figure billowed up, looming over the young midfielder – as he then was. “Steve,” the spirit intoned, “you have freed me from the lamp and for this I will grant you whatever you desire.”

“Well,” said the young Bruce, his delivery folksy even then, “what I’d really like is a contract with Newcastle United.”

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