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McClaren's Delight At Townsend Signing
Written by Newcastle Utd
Steve McClaren believes Andros Townsend can fulfil his potential at United and insists the winger is ready for first-team action
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Steve McClaren believes new signing Andros Townsend can fulfil his potential at St. James' Park, and insists the winger is ready for first-team action straight away.
England international Townsend arrived from Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, putting pen to paper on a five-and-a-half year deal and taking on the number 25 shirt.
The 24-year-old had found opportunities hard to come by at White Hart Lane this term but McClaren has every faith in Townsend's ability and is ready to hand him a debut at Everton next week.
"Bringing Andros to the Club is a great signing," the Magpies' boss told nufc.co.uk.
"He is a very good talent who is a current England international and should be one for years to come, too.
"Andros is a winger with an old-fashioned style. He can play on the right or the left, is two-footed, quick, very direct and loves taking on defenders and crossing the ball.
"He has a good attitude. Andros feels he has a lot to prove and I can't wait to see him do that in a Newcastle shirt.
"Andros isn't fulfilling his potential at the moment and that's why we have brought him here. We see a lot more from Andros and are giving him a tremendous platform at St. James' Park to do that.
"He's been playing under-21 games, which I have watched, he is fit and will have a week's training with us, so there's no problems about him being ready. He will play straight away."
Townsend's arrival is United's third signing of the January transfer window, following Henri Saivet and Jonjo Shelvey through the door at St. James' Park.
And McClaren admitted: "I'm very happy. The acquisitions have been very good.
"We have got three very good players to add to our already-good squad."