Steve McClaren Hints At New System - Featuring Two Newcastle Stars

By Chris Waugh / July 27, 2015

Aleksandar Mitrovic's arrival at Newcastle United does not necessarily mark the end of the road for Papiss Cisse's Magpies career - with head coach Steve McClaren determined to try and fit both forwards into a new system. Signed for £13 million from Anderlecht last week, 20-year-old Serbia international Mitrovic is expected to be elevated straight into the Newcastle line-up, but McClaren insists that does not mean Cisse will be shipped out of the club. The Senegalese striker has been linked with a move to both Besiktas and Trabzonspor this summer but, after scoring 11 goals in 22 appearances last season, it now appears as if McClaren is keen to keep hold of Cisse.

Speaking to The Chronicle following Newcastle's 2-2 pre-season friendly draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday, McClaren said:

"I thought Papiss worked his socks off - he was excellent. He tired in the second-half. But yeah - we need to score goals. "If we can adapt to two strikers we will certainly try to do that. At the present moment we have just had Papiss. "He has played on his own up there with support around. We will look at other things when Mitrovic comes in."

Interestingly, with the Magpies again linked with a move for Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin on Monday by both the Daily Mail and The Metro, this system of "adapting to two strikers" that McClaren speaks of could be used to accommodate the 18-goal hitman should he join this summer. It's a long time since Newcastle regularly looked to play a system with two strikers up front together - is McClaren about to change all of that in 2015-16? For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.