10 Key Reasons Why Newcastle Have Chosen Steve McClaren

By the virtue of managing in the Netherlands for just over three years across two separate spells at FC Twente, McClaren could be considered something of an authority on Dutch football.

It definitely plays into Newcastle's hands, especially with Graham Carr making major inroads into Holland and fostering strong relationships with Eredivisie clubs in recent years. As a result, the Magpies' contingent of Dutch players has grown and McClaren will be another feather to Carr's recruitment bow in the search for new talent to bring to St James' Park.

His contacts and inside knowledge of the Dutch football landscape could prove an invaluable asset and additional leverage to Carr and Lee Charnley in their pursuit of Netherlands-based talent.

But, there also the feeling that McClaren's experience could be useful in bringing the best out of the Dutch players already present at Newcastle, whilst the head coach previously worked with Cheick Tiote at Twente and initially recommended him to the club.

Siem de Jong's return from injury will be a major boost and he will join fellow countryman Tim Krul, Daryl Janmaat and Vurnon Anita in creating a formidable core of supremely talented Dutch players at McClaren's disposal.

And whilst Anita and Krul have allowed their standards to dip this season, Janmaat has been revelation since arriving from Feyenoord last summer and supporters have seen brief glimpses of De Jong's class during an injury affected campaign.

It's possible that Ashley, Charnley and Carr view McClaren as the coach to provide them with a key selling point in the Dutch market by bringing together the Oranje-quartet as the cornerstone of his new look Newcastle United.