Archive
"Feisty" United Ready For Selhurst Test
Written by Newcastle Utd
Steve McClaren believes an "intense week" of training is just what United needed ahead of Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace
By Dominic Scurr
Head coach Steve McClaren believes an "intense week" of training is just what Newcastle United needed ahead of Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace in the Barclays Premier League (3pm kick-off).
The Magpies have been reflecting on last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Leicester City and McClaren wants to see more fight from his side against the Eagles this time out.
"I've had a good week on the training field," admitted the former England manager.
"It's been a feisty, competitive and intense week, which is just what we're looking for because we lacked all of those things last Saturday against Leicester.
"It's just what we needed and I think we have got the message across to the players.
"Last weekend, we didn't do the basics right and we've talked about that in training. For the four games (before Leicester) we showed great fight and spirit and we collected seven points. Last week we didn't do that so it was about getting back to basics in training and that's what we have done.
"You're going to lose games but there are certain ways to lose - last Saturday is gone now. What we've done this week in training we hope to bring to Palace tomorrow."
Midfielder Jack Colback and goalkeeper Karl Darlow returned to training this week but McClaren has been dealt fresh injury blows concerning defender Massadio Haidara and midfielder Cheick Tioté.
"Tioté hasn't made it," revealed the Magpies' head coach.
"Haidara has had a bad accident midweek with his knee. He's having an operation on his lateral cartilage next week in France and we expect him to be out for about four months, which is very disappointing because he wasn't far from returning.
"Jack has been training for the past three days so he's in contention along with Karl Darlow, who will be in the squad. Kevin Mbabu will be back on Monday and that's about it."