Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has jumped to the defence of Newcastle manager Steve Bruce.

peaking about the Newcastle takeover, Smith says he has been "flabbergasted" with the media attention Magpies boss Bruce has received.

"The media attention to his job role at the moment is over the top," said Smith.

"For me Steve Bruce is the manager of Newcastle United Football Club.

"Is it news he's taking training? No, he's the manager he's there to take training.

"I've been flabbergasted with the amount of exposure on Bruce.

"It's a club that's been taken over with an awful lot of finance, it's how they use that now."