7 Decisions McClaren Needs To Make Ahead Of Swansea Clash

1. Should Newcastle Start Siem De Jong?

The Dutchman was seen as integral to Newcastle's attacking play when he was signed last summer. Unfortunately though, with injuries taking their toll last year, the former Ajax skipper has had limited chances to make his mark on the Premier League. With Georginio Wijnaldum added to the fold now, it's certainly tougher for De Jong to make the No 10 spot his own as McClaren has indicated that is where he wants Wijnaldum to play. If that is the case, the club are going to have to figure another way to get De Jong on to the field (for example, dropping Wijnaldum deeper to free up the role for his Dutch counterpart) but, at present, with Gini getting a goal and the side performing well against a good Southampton team, McClaren could be hard-pressed to make an argument to change. Stick or twist: Stick Ultimately right now McClaren should stick with his winning formula and allow De Jong more time to get up to the speed of the Premier League by introducing the Dutchman from the bench. His pedestrian pace on Sunday was a problem as it removed the team's impetus at a stage when they needed a third goal to kill off Southampton. While his game is not about pace and more about technical precision, De Jong can only really be introduced if McClaren can be sure that the attacking-midfielder can match the fitness levels of the opposition and contribute to the team when they don't have the ball. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.