Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is confident results will turn around after defeat to Aston Villa.

Villa won 2-0 thanks to goals from Bertrand Traore and Ollie Watkins.

Bruce said, "I have seen enough in the squad, with those two coming on the pitch especially, and one or two coming back into the squad - we're not as ravaged as we were with injuries.

"The big players in the team are the ones who can create and get a goal for us and they're coming back to fitness which can only be a good thing.

"When you go on a run it's how you handle it. I must stress we're not alone, there are other teams on difficult runs and it's about how you handle it and keep working hard and that's all you can do.

"We're half way, we've been stuck on 19 for the past six games so we've had a difficult period, there's no disputing that but I've seen enough to say we can finish where we finished last year or above it."