Newcastle Boss Demands Magpies "Fight For Every Minute"

Head coach Steve McClaren wants to see his Newcastle United players "fight for every minute" on the pitch as he looks to instil a "winning culture" into the Magpies squad. An opening pre-season victory over Gateshead was followed by a 2-1 loss to Club Atlas in Newcastle's first match on their US tour - but McClaren is eager to oversee another victory on Saturday. Sacramento Republic are Newcastle's opponents at Bonney Field this weekend - with kick-off 8pm PT on Saturday night in the US, but 4am BST time on Sunday morning in the UK - and McClaren is determined to see the Magpies get back to winning ways in California. It is the beginning of the coaching staff's vision to bring a "good environment" and a "winning culture" to a dressing room still largely scarred by last season's disastrous campaign. The arrival of £14.5 million signing Georginio Wijnaldum - who is expected to make his debut this weekend - in America should help boost the Magpies' spirits, as should the expected return to action of both Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini. Quoted in The Chronicle, an enthusiastic McClaren said ahead of the Sacramento game:

"There's a long way to go for us all (in terms of where we want to be). "We need to continue building fitness levels over what is a relatively short pre-season. "We have to build a winning culture and a good environment - build the team and get them on board with what we€™re trying to accomplish. "We want the players to have attitude and to fight for every minute. "The signs I've seen from the team are that the players are taking on board what we're telling them, what we're coaching them. "If the players keep up the attitude and spirit they've shown me, it will take us a long way."

McClaren wants his "winning culture" fully instilled into the squad by the time their Premier League campaign begins against Southampton at St James' Park on August 9th. Let's see if they can start along that path with a victory this weekend... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.