Despite controversy surrounding the amount of time Newcastle players were given off over the international break, former Magpies winger Keith Gillespie believes it might be a good thing.
Mail Online reported Newcastle scheduled six days off out of the next nine days following the feeble defeat to Brighton a fortnight ago.
It caused uproar among angry supporters who are fed up with Steve Bruce's management after a run of just two wins in 20 games has left them just two points above the relegation zone.
However, heading into the final nine matches of the season, Gillespie feels it could actually benefit the Magpies.
“I think there’s so much negativity about the place and I think it might be a good idea in terms of getting away from the club, getting away from all that negativity," Gillespie told Football Fancast.
"It’s been a tough, tough, tough season. Unfortunately, for me, performances have been really poor. So, it is a tough one, fans maybe think, ‘well, why aren’t you on the training pitch trying to fix things?’
“With the international break, you are going to have some players away. So I’m sure that when they are in they will be working hard.
“But, as I say, with that negativity surrounding the club at the minute, maybe a few days away, this sort of international break, might have come at the right time.”
