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Steve Bruce admits: “It’s personal for me at West Brom.”

The Baggies chief is plotting his fifth Championship ­promotion. And following a chastening experience at Newcastle, this one means more. Bruce did not need too much by way of persuasion to return to management – and he did so in the Black Country in February with a point to prove.

He said: “I couldn’t finish my managerial career on what ­happened at Newcastle. I’d taken too much stick – I was being ridiculed. And there’s nothing worse. You can accept it if you have picked the wrong team. But I was being pulled to ­pieces because people were ­saying I couldn’t take a warm-up... that I had given the players too many days off.

“I knew what the team was ­doing on the pitch wasn’t what Newcastle United fans wanted. And I knew they were fed up. They wanted change. But I had a brief to keep the club in the Premier League. And we finished 12th and 13th in my two full seasons. I know we weren’t entertaining or attractive to watch, I’ll hold my hands up.

“We were pragmatic, defensive. I did what I had to do. Keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League was worth something. Would the sale to the new owners have gone ahead if the club was in the Championship? I’m not so sure.”

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