Steve Bruce is the new Aston Villa manager, the club have confirmed.

Rafael Benitez admitted he has taken on a “massive” challenge in agreeing to lead Newcastle’s desperate fight for Premier League survival.

Steve McClaren’s ill-fated reign as Newcastle’s head coach finally appeared to be drawing to a close as the club closed in on potential successor Rafael Benitez.

Stoke City’s Irish midfielder Glenn Whelan will play against Newcastle tonight despite breaking his nose in the weekend win over Aston Villa - but manager Mark Hughes does not know if the Dubliner will wear a protective mask.

Chelsea 5 Newcastle 1: Chelsea may be way off the pace in the Premier League, but they are still one of England’s big beasts and the gulf between them and Newcastle will be demonstrated clearly over the next week or so.

Everton’s first home league win since November has eased some of the scrutiny on Martinez.

Watford 2 Newcastle 1

Jonjo Shelvey ended a “perfect” week on Tyneside with a priceless victory which breathed new life into Newcastle’s Premier League survival bid.

Luckless Newcastle midfielder Siem de Jong feared he could lose the sight in one eye after a freak training ground accident.

Louis van Gaal admits his Manchester United players have driven him to boredom and anger at times this season.

Jordan Ayew’s piledriver denied Newcastle a third successive Barclays Premier League victory and handed relegation-haunted Aston Villa a glimmer of hope.

Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2: IN A SEASON of constant surprises, the situation near the top and bottom of the Premier League took another extraordinary twist as Newcastle United came from behind to beat Tottenham in stoppage time and end the Londoners’ unbeaten run of 14 league games — and put a huge dent in their title ambitions.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted he never considered his team potential Barclays Premier League champions this season after seeing them fall short at Newcastle.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he was too optimistic about Philippe Coutinho’s injury and he may not yet be ready to return.

Crystal Palace 5 Newcastle 1: Steve McClaren hopes Mike Ashley will back him to the hilt so he can command the dressing-room respect needed to win Newcastle’s relegation dogfight.

There was more goalkeeping worry for Martin O’Neill after Newcastle manager Steve McClaren confirmed Rob Elliot suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury.

Steve McClaren was a relieved man after seeing Newcastle finally secure their first Barclays Premier League win of the season with a 6-2 demolition of Norwich.

Newcastle 6 Norwich City 2: Steve McClarens said he is struggling to make sense of his first Premier League victory as Newcastle’s head coach after watching his side trounce Norwich.

Substitutes Ramires and Willian got Chelsea out of jail as they fought back from 2-0 down at Newcastle to snatch a point.

The Premier League Doctors’ Group has said safeguards need to be in place for team doctors treating players on the pitch following Eva Carneiro’s departure from Chelsea.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has told his players to stop feeling sorry for themselves and turn their season around against Chelsea.

West Ham 2 Newcastle 0: Slaven Bilic gave Steve McClaren another miserable evening as West Ham finally got their home campaign up and running with a 2-0 win over Newcastle last night.

Steve McClaren has urged his Holland stars to put their international misery behind them and help to kick-start Newcastle’s Barclays Premier League season.

There was much delight among travelling Gooners at being geographically blessed with the dream ticket promotion of Watford, Bournemouth and Norwich.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has vowed to field the strongest team he can as he bids to end Newcastle’s 46-year trophy drought against Northampton in the Capital One Cup second round tonight.

Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 0: Louis van Gaal may ignore the mounting evidence to the contrary and insist there is no dire need to add to his body of strikers before the summer transfer window closes at the end of the month but when the answer to the Manchester United manager’s problems is “Marouane Fellaini,” then the Dutchman is clearly asking the wrong question.

Daryl Janmaat has admitted his “stupid” actions cost Newcastle any chance of success at Swansea.

PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: Sunderland 1-3 Norwich, Swansea 2-0 Newcastle, Tottenham 2-2 Stoke, Watford 0-0 West Brom, West Ham 1-2 Leicester

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2:

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross is to undergo back surgery and will be out for at least two months, the club have announced.

Newcastle United concluded their pre-season tour of the US with a 4-3 loss to Portland Timbers’ second-string side. What now for manager Steve McClaren?

Georginio Wijnaldum has become the third most expensive signing in Newcastle’s history after putting pen to paper on five-year deal.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren is keeping his fingers crossed for a transfer breakthrough before he and his players head for the United States at the weekend.