Steve McClaren Insists He Had To Play Makeshift Newcastle Back Four In US Tour Defeat

By Chris Waugh / July 22, 2015

Steve McClaren defended his decision to play a makeshift back four during Newcastle United's loss to Portland Timbers 2 - insisting some of his senior defenders were not injured but could not be risked on the artificial pitch. The Magpies succumbed to a 4-3 defeat at Providence Park - their second in three US tour games - despite Georginio Wijnaldum's goal just six minutes into his debut and a brilliant brace from Rolando Aarons. In fact, Newcastle conceded three goals from long balls into the box, and two from set-pieces, as the makeshift back four of Gael Bigirimana, Shane Ferguson, Lubomir Satka and Aarons were pulverised in the air.

However, McClaren was adamant that the likes of Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson and Jamaal Lascelles could not have been risked on the playing surface in Portland. Speaking to The Chronicle, McClaren explained his decision to leave out those senior players as follows:

"I know these surfaces very well from my time in Holland and we had six or seven (who) could not play on this surface. "But three or four we took a little risk on after the game. The main thing was to come through with no serious injuries and we€™ve done that. "They trained in (the) afternoon and had a tough session on grass. "We could not risk them on here."

One thing's for certain, this woeful display only highlighted further the Magpies' desperate need to sign more defenders... Thankfully, the makeshift back four of Birigimana, Ferguson, Satka and Aarons will NEVER play together in a Premier League match. CLICK HERE to read the Match Report from Newcastle's 4-3 loss to Portland Timbers.And CLICK HERE to read the Player Ratings from the game.For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.