Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce feels their scouts have proven their worth over the past 18 months.

Bruce says Allain Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron have shown the way for recruiting well without huge gambles.

He said: “It's a difficult league and just spending money doesn't guarantee you anything.

"It makes it a little bit easier but recruitment is key and certainly Allan and Almiron have improved us at crucial times.

“It's vitally important that we keep working on that and trying to find a new Allan or new Almiron; that's the key to it, the success of bringing people in who improve you. In that respect I think we've done ok.

“At a crucial time in January the loan signings helped us enormously. And let's not forget Jetro (Willems), who was terrific for us before he had to go back. We have to keep trying to improve and seeing what we can do."