10 Problems Steve McClaren Must Address At Newcastle

5. Make A Decision About John Carver And the Rest Of His Backroom Staff

Can John Carver realistically remain on the Newcastle coaching staff despite making it clear he wanted the head coach's role on a permanent basis? Although the club have insisted in the past that Carver will revert to his role as first-team coach if someone else is appointed ahead of him - with Alan Pardew's former assistant also revealing he would accept such an offer - will McClaren really be willing to work so closely to a man who courted his own job so publicly? Carver's extensive knowledge of the club could be seen by McClaren as an attribute he needs in an assistant, but the dynamic would be extremely difficult to manage. There has also been talk of McClaren bringing in Newcastle-born psychologist Steve Black - who has previously worked with Jonny Wilkinson and Joey Barton - to boost his backroom staff as well, so the ex-England boss must decide where else he feels he needs to recruit behind the scenes. Newcastle are a club in transition now - and any appointments, or indeed sackings, made within the backroom staff could prove crucial to their future.