Jonjo Shelvey is seeing a lot of the ball in midfield. He's dictating Newcastle's play but it's very much a pre-season affair so far.

Postpublished at 9 mins

9 mins

Newcastle 0-0 Wolves

A deflection earns Newcastle another corner but it's headed confidently clear by Willy Boly.

Jonjo Shelvey then blasts the ball into Joao Moutinho's stomach and the Wolves midfielder is down a little winded.

Richard Hooker: Newcastle must be clear favourites to be relegated this season. Captain says incoming manager has done well in the Premier League? That must be the nationwide premier league.

Ooh, lovely play from Wolves. They capitalise on a mistake at the back and it's played from one player to the other with speed and accuracy.

It's whipped back across the centre from the right and a dummy finds Joao Moutinho free on the edge of the box.

He hits it well but it's always rising and flies over the crossbar.

There's no VAR in this tournament but there are several new rules that are in practise.

Definitely something to keep an eye on this season.

It's Newcastle who have started the brightest.

Yoshinori Muto is slipped in on the left following a sloppy ball from Ruben Neves.

The Newcastle striker tries to pick out Jonjo Shelvey in the box but it's blocked and out for a corner.

There seems to be a real contrast between these two clubs at the moment. Nuno Espirito Santo's done a terrific job at Wolves, leading them to the FA Cup final last season.

They are a club on the up and you'd put your money on them finishing above Newcastle this season wouldn't you?

Off we go. Can Newcastle's players give the fans something to cheer about?

Usingh Bolt: We were never going to get manager of Rafa's standing, experience and calibre. Toon fans accept that. Who ever came had a tough act to follow. But we could have done alot better than Bruce. What's he done in last few years. Hull relegated messed up Villa. Sad days.

Out come the players. Rui Patricio's mascot is a little nervous and the keeper has to give him a pep talk before walking him out.

Conor Coady and Jamaal Lascelles lead the way.

Jon Ferguson: Steve Bruce, Mike Ashley - 2 blokes, 4 names, 52,000 disgruntled Geordies with their tops back on.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles said: "We are all looking forward to it. There has been a lot of speculation and we have been waiting for him to come in. He is a very well-known manager and he has done well in the Premier League, so we are really looking forward to it."

On pre-season preparations without a manager: "It has been the same, Ben [Dawson] and Neil [Redfearn] have taken over and done a great job. As professionals, we have to just stick to doing the right things. Most clubs are pretty settled by pre-season, unfortunately that didn’t happen for us, but we are in good condition and now it's up to the manager to take over. We have got to stick together as one and we cannot be pointing the finger [next season]."

Image source, Getty Images

What do you think? Give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

Ian Megennis: I think NUFC have got the wrong Bruce. We would have been better off with Fiona or Lenny.

There's also plenty of Premier League stars in the Wolves starting XI, as boss Nuno Espirito Santo has named a strong team.

The likes of Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, Joao Moutinho, Leander Dendoncker and Adama Traore all start.

Image source, Getty Images

Kick-off isn't too far away in China. And while all the attention seems to be off the pitch at Newcastle, there will be a few players hoping to make an impression, knowing Steve Bruce will be watching on.

Bruce has travelled to China but will not meet the players until after the match. Can some of the youngsters give him something to think about?

First-team regulars Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey are among those in the starting XI.

JL: Do Newcastle fans actually think they deserve/could get “better” than Steve Bruce, with the way the club is run?

Yes! We want this.

There's a tasty tie coming up later as Leeds and Manchester United renew their old rivalry in a pre-season clash in Australia.

The two sides go head-to-head in Perth and it promises to be a battle in the stands.

We'll bring live updates from kick-off.

Steve Bruce has been in managerial employment during every calendar year since his first job with Sheffield United in 1998.