7 Decisions McClaren Needs To Make Ahead Of Swansea Clash

5. Is Vurnon Anita The Man To Partner Jack Colback?

Before leaving the field on a stretcher, Vurnon Anita put in a tidy display anchoring the midfield alongside Jack Colback and he appeared to have picked up where he left off against West Ham United at the end of last season. Are Newcastle's last two league games finally representative of what the Dutchman has in his locker? Possibly, but given that it's taken four years to get to this point, it's perhaps unwise to anoint Anita as the club's next midfield general at this stage. It looks like Steve McClaren has landed on a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two men in a slightly deeper midfield role. In that respect, it's understandable to line Anita up alongside Colback based on his form towards the end of last season. They both work hard, can make simple passes and are prepared to put themselves about. When you consider the other natural defensive-midfielder in the group is an extremely rusty Cheick Tiote, with Mehdi Abeid being quietly ushered to the exit, Anita seems the obvious option. That being said, do you really need two midfielders just to sit and hold? With Newcastle's defensive troubles then maybe, but it creates a gap between the two banks of the midfield. Let's say that you stick Georginio Wijnaldum in Anita's place - you've then got a powerful runner from midfield who can play the ball well and has previously indicated that he likes a box-to-box role. That frees up a spot behind whoever plays up front for another more attacking player like Siem de Jong. Does it mean Wijnaldum may get fewer goals? Possibly. Does it mean that the club can get more creative players on to the pitch who can all chip in? Certainly. Stick or twist: Stick AND Twist If Anita isn't fit and hasn't recovered from the injury suffered on Sunday, this is a moot point as the club will be forced to change the team. Even if he is fit though, the club should consider adjusting the side depending on who they are playing and whether they are at home. Away at Swansea, Anita might actually be the best bet as a creative side who play through the likes of Ki Sung-yeung, Jonjo Shelvey and Gylfi Sigurdsson but McClaren should also consider moving Wijnaldum into a role where he can threaten more from deep, allowing the likes of Aarons, De Jong and Co greater opportunities, creating a more attacking set-up.