10 Newcastle Players Who Could Be Revitalised By Steve McClaren

7. Cheick Tiote

Tiote has had a couple of rotten seasons in a Newcastle shirt, no doubt, but the £3.5 million Newcastle paid FC Twente for him in 2010 was a bargain - and McClaren will hope that he can rediscover that form in the coming months. During the 2011-12 season Tiote formed a pivotal duo in midfield alongside Yohan Cabaye that propelled the Magpies to within inches of Champions League qualification. Newcastle's chief scout Graham Carr scouted well to snatch Tiote from the grasp of McClaren - who had just won the Eredivisie title with the Ivorian as a key member of his team - and the defensive-midfielder was even linked with a £20 million-plus move to Manchester City or Arsenal in 2012. However, the rampaging defensive-midfielder who used to control games with powerful ease has unfortunately become a thing of the past - something McClaren will hope to rectify, should Tiote remain on Tyneside this summer. Although the midfielder has been linked with a move to Turkey, Tiote was a pivotal part of McClaren's Twente side who captured the Dutch title - so if anyone can get the best out of the Ivorian it is the ex-England boss. The next month of pre-season training will give McClaren plenty of time to assist the midfielder in rediscovering his best form - because a reinvigorated Tiote could help the Magpies push up the Premier League table.