10 Issues McClaren STILL Needs To Resolve At Newcastle Before The Season Kicks Off

2. Decide Exactly Where Wijnaldum Is Going To Play

Little more than a year ago, Siem de Jong was brought in to be the fulcrum of the Newcastle side - yet now suspicions are beginning to arise that it could be a straight fight between the former Ajax man and his Dutch counterpart Georginio Wijnaldum for the Magpies' No 10 slot going forward. The Magpies coaching staff implied early on that Wijnaldum would be deployed in a "double-six" role, effectively as one of the two deep-lying midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation, probably alongside Jack Colback. This would give Wijnaldum the freedom to do as he pleases and be the box-to-box midfielder he so desires - a sort of Yaya Toure if you like. What's more, fielding Wijnaldum in a deeper role would allow De Jong to be deployed as a No 10, freeing up the wider attacking positions to two of Moussa Sissoko, Ayoze Perez, Rolando Aarons and even Remy Cabella when he is fit. You see Wijnaldum's versatility - he can play anywhere across the five "midfield" positions in a 4-2-3-1 formation - is both a blessing and a curse. He CAN be used in different positions, but that doesn't necessarily mean he SHOULD be. The Dutchman should be utilised in whatever Steve McClaren deems to be his best position, and then the other players should fit in around Wijnaldum. So can McClaren find a way to fit both De Jong and Wijnaldum in the same team? Or is it a case of one or the other?