'History is repeating itself' for ex-Sunderland boss Steve Bruce at rivals Newcastle United
Scotland international Hutton played under Bruce at Villa Park and speaking to BBC 5 Live he sees similarities in the Magpies’ goalscoring woes, with what he saw first hand in the Midlands.
“I think the way Steve Bruce sets his teams up, there is such a big gap between the midfield and the striker,” said Hutton about a United side who have seen their forwards score just ONCE in the Premier League this season.
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Hide Ad“It leaves them isolated, it is difficult and you are asking him to do something spectacular to score a goal.
“Everywhere Steve Bruce has been he has tried to play this formation. When we were at Villa he tried to make us play that way and it didn’t work out – we didn’t get going.”
Hutton continued: “I find it quite difficult for the striker. It is very difficult to play that way.
“I think he has given his main front three a good go at it but it has not quite worked out.
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Hide Ad“Maybe it is time to bring one of these [Dwight Gayle, Andy Carroll] in.”
Brazilian Joelinton – a club record £35million buy from the Bundesliga in the summer – is the only United forward to find the back of the net in the top flight.
Yoshinori Muto, who is struggling to tie down a place on the bench at present, has one other goal in the League Cup.