Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce admits he feels for the players he couldn't register to their Premier League squad.

Rolando Aarons, Jack Colback, Achraf Lazaar, Henri Saivet and Jamie Sterry all missed out.

While Aarons and Lazaar have since secured loan moves, to Wycombe and Cosenza respectively, Bruce has been keen to keep those who were omitted involved with the main group.

"The hardest thing for me was to pick the 25. I had only been here three weeks and people like Jack I had known a long time," he told the Evening Chronicle. "It was very, very difficult because I saw him train this morning and he trained very, very well. We're disappointed that he didn't get fixed up.

"So, out of respect for him, he's not done anything wrong. It's just we have to make that call with 22 outfield players and unfortunately Jack along with Rolando and Ach, they're not part of it.

"It's not their fault so it's vitally important they're still part of the squad in terms of training every day and it's our responsibility to make sure that they stay fit, stay healthy and when the opportunity comes along for them, they're able to take it.

"As I keep saying, it's not their fault. They haven't done anything wrong. So it's vitally important we train and we work them hard."