Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy says Newcastle United's new owners should stick with manager Steve Bruce.

The 60-year-old is set to be axed this week as Newcastle's new Saudi owners make their mark on the club they have purchased for £305million.

But Murphy told talkSPORT: "You've got to be careful not to run before you can walk.

"The situation Newcastle is in now is precarious.

"I think they've got a manager in charge who has been there, done it at the lower echelons of the Premier League and dealt with that scenario before, even at Newcastle.

"So is there someone out there who is going to be more equipped to do the job than Steve Bruce?

"That's ultimately the question. Ok you can talk about the pleasing of the fans and the masses, but that doesn't necessarily mean you get Bruce out and bring someone in who's going to do it better.

"I think they will get rid because that's what the fans want and they're trying to keep everybody happy.

"There's no obvious candidate to come in for a relegation battle. It is a different question if you're asking me are there managers out there who are capable of working with new players, spending money, competing - of course there are.

"But coming into the Premier League, if you haven't been here before, who's out there more equipped than Bruce? No one jumps out at me."