NUFC boss advises players to boycott social media following racist abuse received by Willock signing

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Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has said he will continue to advise all his players to boycott social media following the abuse received by new signing Joe Willock.

The 22-year-old midfielder revealed on Thursday that he is considering quitting social media due to the racist abuse he suffers on a daily basis.

Willock recently completed a permanent move to Newcastle from Arsenal after a successful loan from St James’ Park last season. Credit: PA

Bruce said: “How many times have I told players that they should avoid it and that’s the sad part of modern society we live in right now.

“How people think they have the right to abuse people. In my opinion, social media is a dark place.

“People should be held responsible for what they write and my advice to everyone is not to.

“There are some gains to that, I guess, but there is more to the other side, which I have certainly witnessed.”

Bruce has said Willock will be included in his squad for Saturday’s Premier League game at Aston Villa despite a lack of football during the preseason.

The Magpies boss did not rule out signing a new defender ahead of the transfer window next week and said the absence of goalkeepers Karl Darlow and Martin Dubravka remained a concern.

Darlow spent time in the hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Steve Bruce said he urged all of his players to get vaccinated.

The Magpies manager said: “It’s fair to say that we have a lot of players who didn’t have the jab and I always said that was their prerogative.

“It is vital that people get bitten and there are statistics to go with it. A quarter of those hospitalized right now are under 30, simply because they don’t have the bites.

“My advice is to get stung.”

Bruce has confirmed he will be deprived of midfielder Jonjo Shelvey against Villa due to a new calf injury.

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