Matt Ritchie apologises after Steve Bruce bust-up, with claims he called Newcastle boss a ‘coward’ in furious training ground row

Newcastle United midfielder Matt Ritchie is understood to have apologised after a bust-up with his manager Steve Bruce.

As first reported in the Daily Mail, the pair were involved in a heated exchange at the club’s training ground earlier this week.

Ritchie was left furious with the Magpies boss after he was criticised for his part in Wolves’ equaliser in the 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The 31-year-old was brought on by Bruce for Emil Krafth, which created some confusion over how the defence was supposed to be organised.

Ruben Neves scored for Wolves two minutes after Ritchie’s introduction and the Newcastle boss pointed the finger of blame at the Scot for not getting the message across quickly enough of a tactical switch.

“Unfortunately Matt Ritchie didn’t get the instructions on quick enough,” Bruce said.

“That was a frustration for all of us, but we’ll have to concede that one and make sure our instructions (get on). We’ll do it from the sideline (next time).”

The Daily Mail published a report in Thursday’s paper that revealed Ritchie was left furious with the post-match comments from Bruce.

Ritchie is said to have telephoned Bruce after the game to make his feelings clear, but was told by his manager they would speak on their return to training on Tuesday.

That is when the row erupted, with claims Ritchie refused Bruce’s request to see him in his office and called him a ‘coward’.

Bruce is alleged to have confronted Ritchie on the training pitch, with sources telling the papers that the 60-year-old ‘shoulder barged’ into his player as things got heated.

There was no retaliation from Ritchie, who has since said sorry for his part in the incident.

Bruce has not been a popular appointment on Tyneside and Newcastle are in a real fight for survival.

They have lost 14 of their 26 games this season and 18th-place Fulham are just three points behind them with 12 games left to play.

The Magpies have a crunch clash with fellow strugglers West Brom on Sunday and a bust-up with his own player is hardly ideal preparation for Bruce’s side.