10 Newcastle Players Who Could Be Revitalised By Steve McClaren

2. Emmanuel Riviere

It's an understatement to say that Emmanuel Riviere's £6 million move from Monaco to Newcastle has been anything but an unmitigated disaster to date. The forward has failed to score a Premier League goal - and, although he has put in some 45-minute displays that have been relatively impressive, he has not looked physically able to put himself about for an entire English top-flight match. Riviere netted just one goal in 23 Premier League appearances last season and he simply has to show more in a black-and-white shirt - although once again there is a caveat here. He is not an out-and-out striker, instead preferring to operate wide on the left of a front three, and that is part of the reason why he has struggled, but he was also profligate when presented with some golden opportunities towards the latter stages of the 2014-15 campaign. There is definitely talent there, but the 25-year-old must add goals to his game. McClaren and his backroom staff must work with Riviere in order to improve his confidence in front of goal - an area for which Steve Black could be crucial - and then Newcastle supporters may finally discover the reason why Graham Carr directed the Magpies to sign the Frenchman last summer.