McClaren Predicts 11 "Interesting Days" Ahead For Newcastle

Newcastle United head coach Steve McClaren does not seem convinced his side are in a brilliant place with little more than a week to go until the start of the Premier League season - admitting to "concerns" with his side. The Magpies lost their third pre-season match out of six on Wednesday night against League Two York City and McClaren says he has been playing "catch-up" ever since he took over last month. Despite offering this disconcerting assessment of exactly where Newcastle are right about now, McClaren did state that the next 10 or 11 days will be "interesting" as the club prepare for Southampton in their season opener at St James' Park a week on Sunday.

Speaking to the Shields Gazette after the 2-1 defeat to York at Bootham Crescent, McClaren said:

"I'm like every manager, you always have concerns - you never quite know where you are at, especially when you have just come in and you try to establish something and you are trying to play catch-up and get to know everybody. "That's what I am doing. I'm learning a lot. It has been short, but we have 10 or 11 days to go - they will be interesting days."

With just Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday left for Newcastle in pre-season before the Saints match, the Magpies boss will surely be hoping that his side show far more competent defending than they have done throughout the entirety of July... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.