Former Newcastle United fullback Jose Enrique says Steve Bruce was made a scapegoat for former owner Mike Ashley's troubled management.

Enrique feels that Bruce should not be made the scapegoat for the Magpies' current position in the Premier League.

Instead, Enrique has blamed Ashley for the club's precarious top-flight position and says he can sympathise with the squad after finding himself in a similar situation before.

Enrique, speaking on behalf of 888sport, said: "You cannot blame Steve Bruce because Eddie Howe has arrived and there are still problems.

"The team isn't working.

"Obviously, this is a long-term thing where for many years the objective was to not get relegated.

"But still, I didn't expect Newcastle to be this bad this season, to be honest, because the players aren't that bad.

"If you look at their front players they are very good. In defence maybe you can improve it. In midfield, when you play Shelvey and Willock and no defensive midfielder at all you're going to concede.

"But the reasons go back a long way. It is not down to Steve Bruce and it is not down to this season.

"For many years Newcastle haven't spent money and haven't trusted managers to sign the right players.

"The situation is from the past."