STEVE BRUCE intends to sign a new striker this summer – and is hoping to make a total of “four or five” additions before the start of next season.

Newcastle played out a goalless draw with Brighton in their penultimate game of the current campaign this evening, with neither side ever really looking like scoring in an especially uneventful encounter.

The Magpies have struggled for goals from their attacking players all season – Jonjo Shelvey, a midfielder, is the only Newcastle player with more than four league goals to his name this term – a failing Bruce is determined to address.

The uncertainty over the club’s ownership situation continues, with the Premier League still to deliver a verdict on Amanda Staveley’s proposed takeover, but having held a number of meetings with his recruitment team already, Bruce intends to press on with his transfer business.

“I think we need four or five players to add to the squad of players we’ve got,” said the Newcastle boss. “So, we’ll go to work on that.

“I’ve always said with Jo (Joelinton), I think he’s better playing to a side, that suits him, so it’s quite possible that a centre-forward could be on the list, yeah.”

Bruce conceded that tonight’s game at the Amex Stadium was “not exactly a classic”, but given that he was without four senior centre-halves and two of his first-choice central midfielders, he was delighted with his players’ application and commitment.

“Considering the problems we’ve had, I was delighted,” he said. “The one thing you can’t deny about this group of players is their ability to roll their sleeves up and have a go. We played two full-backs as centre-backs today (Emil Krafth and Danny Rose), and they were terrific. I was delighted with their attitude.

“Emil’s got a really sore ankle, and did well to carry on, but I think he epitomised the spirit of all them. It was important we put a point on the board. It means Brighton can’t be above us, and that’s important to me.”