Newcastle United are beginning a new era - and it will be led by Steve McClaren. The former England boss may have reportedly rejected the Magpies' overtures twice already in 2015 but, having been sacked as Derby County manager last month, he is now willing to become Alan Pardew's successor as permanent Newcastle head coach. It has taken the Magpies a full six months to appoint Pardew's permanent successor - and during John Carver's reign as Newcastle caretaker and then interim head coach the club has gone backwards. As a result, McClaren will not enter a club safely in mid-table and with six months by which to plan his summer recruitment drive as he would have done had he accepted the job when he was first approached in January. Instead, McClaren will arrive at St James' Park to pick up the pieces from Carver's disastrous tenure. The Magpies only avoided relegation on the final day of the 2014-15 season and the Newcastle dressing room needs a complete overhaul. Players must be brought in, others must be shipped out, while decisions must be made about backroom personnel, the captaincy and the club's abysmal injury record. So here are the 10 biggest problems that will be in Steve McClaren's in-tray when he takes up the reins as Newcastle United head coach...
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
