Steve Bruce has walked into the eye of a storm after accepting Mike Ashley’s offer to become Newcastle’s new head coach.

The 58-year-old boyhood Magpies fan was confirmed as Rafael Benitez’s replacement on Wednesday, just hours before the team he has inherited from the Spaniard were due to kick off in their opening Premier League Asia Trophy fixture against Wolves in Nanjing, China.

Bruce, who will be assisted by trusted allies Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence in his new role, arrived knowing he faces a major challenge to win over fans still furious at Benitez’s departure and once again threatening boycotts as they step up their campaign against Ashley.

Hoffenheim’s £36million-rated striker Joelinton is a player the Magpies have monitored for some time and his capture would represent a new club record, although Bruce’s job title – Benitez was manager rather than head coach – suggests he will not have sole charge of the recruitment process.

In addition, academy coaches Ben Dawson and Neil Redfearn have presided over pre-season training and the former Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Wigan, Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Sunderland, Hull and Aston Villa boss will have little time in which to instil his ideas ahead of the opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal on August 11.

He also faces a battle for the hearts and minds of supporters who went into the summer hoping for a takeover, the retention of Benitez and a spending spree which would fuel a challenge for the top eight, but will end it with Ashley still in place, the Spaniard now manager at Dalian Yifang and gaping holes in the squad.

Many have already voted with their feet, with around 12,000 season tickets having been placed on general sale earlier this week.