I've talked about the relationship between the Newcastle United fans and the board many times in this column.

It hasn't been great for a long time and Steve Bruce seems to be caught in the middle of that unfortunately.

We know as managers that when results don't go your way, the supporters can turn on you a little bit. They were unlucky against Burnley. They were the better team but Wayne Hennessey was exceptional in goals for the visitors.

Saturday against Southampton takes on huge importance. They had a massive boost winning 8-0 against Newport County and I thought they played well against Manchester United, so it isn't going to be easy.

You don't want to go into the international break with zero points on the board. I know it's early doors, but as a manager you don't want a two week break after a run of results like that. It seems like forever because you're desperate to get back on the training pitch and work with the players.

Bruce needs a victory this weekend

NEWCASTLE SIGNINGS

I was excited after the first game of the season against West Ham United. I know Newcastle lost, but the team played really well offensively, they used their attacking attributes really well, certainly for the first hour.

But they didn't look so strong in the defensive unit. I think Steve is looking to address that, but the communication that has been sent out from the club and Steve's press conferences, it sounds like he has spent his budget on bringing in Joe Willock, which I believe was a fantastic signing.

That means Steve will likely be looking at the loan market over the last few days. And that comes with its own risks. Will he be getting the type of player he needs? At this point in time he would want somebody with some Premier League experience, but it is likely only younger players from the big clubs who would be available on loan, unless they were prepared to pay a loan fee.

Ethan Ampadu is a very good young player. He was 15 years of age when he made his debut for Exeter City and has spent a few loan spells away from Chelsea, including last season in the Premier League with Sheffield United. He can play as a central defender or central midfielder, so he ticks a lot of boxes because he is quite versatile, and when you're limited on your budget, if you can get players who can play in more than one position, that's a big help for you.

Phil Jones has also been linked with the club. It's been a long time since he played for Manchester United, I wouldn't like to say when his last league appearance was. Whether he's up to speed or not, I'm not sure, he hasn't had a particularly good time. But he does have a lot of experience in the top-flight and that's what Steve will be looking at. Steve would be quite loath to sign a young player who doesn't have experience because you don't know how they will react.

It will be a big last few days in the transfer market for Newcastle. There is disappointment amongst supporters about how this window has unfolded. Everybody is delighted with the signing of Joe Willock, but I think they were expecting three or four additions, not just the one, especially with how the season has started.

Maybe if they don't get a result on Saturday, it might show the board that they need to do more than the Joe Willock signing. It all depends on Saturday. Win that and you go into the international break with a bit of confidence and get the mood lifted around the place. It is crucial. You don't want to get in that rut where you haven't won a game because the confidence levels of the players and supporters will drop.

Jones in action for Manchester United

LONGSTAFF MOVE WORKS

As a player, when people are talking about if you want to move or not, you know yourself what you need to do.

I think when you're in someone in Sean Longstaff's position, the proof is in the pudding. The manager isn't really picking him on a regular basis, and that means that for your own career that you need to move on.

There's a manager there in Rafa Benitez who obviously knows everything about Sean, giving him his debut and seeing him develop into a good strong young player.

Everton is a big club with a fantastic history and it could suit everyone.

It could suit Sean moving away from his home and going to play for a big club. It could raise funds for Newcastle and Steve to go and use elsewhere.

I think around 10 million pounds is the price being quoted, so that could help Steve. You'd be thinking that deal would be completed in the next few days so that Steve could go and reinvest that in the team quite quickly, and that would possibly help if he wanted to get a more experienced player.

When you're in Steve's position, when things are tight, sometimes you have to wheel and deal and move people out to bring people in.

It all depends on the valuation from both clubs but I personally think that it would be a very good move for all parties; for Everton, for Sean, for Newcastle and for Steve to reinvest in the team.

Longstaff on the move?

HOW TO STOP LUKAKU

In Romelu Lukaku, what you've got now is a player who went to Italy and worked with a manager in Antonio Conte who has got him to peak fitness, with how lean he is now and the physicality that he has. His goalscoring prowess has never been in question, he has scored goals at all his clubs and also with Belgium.

I thought his performance against Arsenal was outstanding. It was the perfect number nine performance. His hold-up play, link-up play, his touch and then he scores what all number nines consider to be a great goal, the four or five yard tap in. They see those goals as just as important as a 30-yard goal in the top corner.

Having managed against big strikers in the past, my advice would be to not get involved in a physical battle with Lukaku because he will just overpower you.

First thing you need to do is stop the ball getting into his feet better than Arsenal did. So that's important for central midfielders playing against him to stop passes from the likes of Jorginho, Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante.

Also, your centre-backs need to play games with him, try and nip in front of him, and avoid getting physical with him because you're not going to win that battle. You've got to be more cute as a central defender to try and make him work hard for his space. That's what they are going to have to do. But that is easier said than done because he is one of the top strikers in the business at this moment in time. He's up there with the Harry Kane's and Erling Haaland's, so it is going to be tough for any opponent this season.

How do you stop Lukaku?