Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has granted his players the week off.

Bruce has made the decision to hand his Newcastle players six days off from nine despite the club's perilous position.

The Magpies are 17th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone with a game in hand over 18th-place Fulham.

They were defeated 3-0 by Brighton on Saturday after another dismal performance during which they managed just one-third of possession and one shot on target.

Bruce has handed his players Sunday and Monday off, and he intends to give the squad a further four-day break over next weekend, says the Daily Mail.

With the squad due to be away from the training ground from this Friday to next Monday, that means they will spend six days from nine off.