Alan Pardew has returned to Newcastle United to conduct an interview dressed as Steve McClaren... Well, this may not be entirely true, but the current Magpies' head coach has plucked a line straight from page one of Pardew's best selling book: 'How To Conduct Interviews And Annoy People" (Disclaimer! None of the opening two sentences is factually correct!) McClaren has told The Evening Chronicle that Fabricio Coloccini is better than any centre-back Newcastle United could have signed in this transfer window. That's the sort of 'feels like a new signing' line that the current Crystal Palace manager Pardew was loathed for spouting during his four years on Tyneside, right? Theres been a lot of talk about signings this summer, but for me, that (Coloccini penning a new one-year extension with the option for a further year) was the best one. We looked around at various defenders when his position was in doubt, but we quickly decided that none of them matched up. I thought along with (Steven) Taylor, he was excellent. There was a point in the summer where we thought he might well be going," the former England manager continued in The Chronicle. "There were offers on the table, but the club has done great to address that situation and keep him. We said, Sort him out, and get him back on board. Theyve done that, and deep down, I think he always wanted to finish his career at Newcastle. Im pleased he performed he did like he did on Saturday." The captain's performances have been suspect to say the least over the last couple of seasons, which led to many questioning why he was still held in such high regard at St James' Park. Although, if he can keep up the level he showed at Old Trafford on Saturday, the Argentine will prove to be a better coup than almost any defender United have been linked with over the last few months. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to followWhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.