Jermaine Jenas believes some journalists covering Newcastle United 'need to eat some humble pie' after Steve Bruce was crowned Premier League manager of the month for April.
Bruce guided Newcastle to 11 points from a possible 14 as the club edged towards safety - and Jenas is happy to see the head coach getting the plaudits.
Speaking ahead of Newcastle's game with Man City, Jenas was asked about where the side would be had Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin been fit all season, he told BBC 5 Live: "They're a totally different team [with them in it.]
"It's what I've been trying to say all year with Steve Bruce, I have been fighting his corner.
"Steve Bruce is one of those honest managers where if you have something negative to say about his team he knows why you're saying it because they are playing poorly but he was working with what he had at his disposal.
"There's a couple of journalists up there [in Newcastle] who need to be eating a bit of humble pie as far as I'm concerned.
"They've given him nothing but stick all year and he's taken it on the chin - but with his best team at his disposal, he has shown he can cause some problems.
"From a manager's point of view you can't do anything without your best players - you're just hanging on.
"Fair play to him and I just want him to take that manager of the month trophy out with him for a little meal, plonk it on the table and hopefully a few journalists will pop in and have a look at it."
