PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS ALL BACK MACCA
Jan: Steve is still the man to save Toon
DARYL JANMAAT has leapt to the defence of Steve McClaren, insisting Newcastle’s players are right behind their under-fire boss.
McClaren’s job is on the line in the wake of their 5-1 thrashing at Crystal Palace on Saturday, which followed a week of training-ground bust-ups and talk of player unrest. But Dutch star Janmaat has shot down claims that McClaren has lost the dressing room. And the full-back has urged owner Mike Ashley to give the Toon boss time to get things right at St James’ Park. Janmaat, 26, said: “He came in the summer with a lot of ambitions. We bought some new players in and we all expected more from the start of the season. “It’s disappointing and I understand that, but there are still 24 games to go.”
McClaren’s position is under increasing scrutiny, with some fans calling for his head less than six months since he replaced John Carver. The board, however, are prepared to give the 54-year-old more time, despite Newcastle being second bottom in the Premier League. Janmaat has sympathy for McClaren, who has just two league wins this term. The ex-Feyenoord defender said: “For him, it is hard as well. All of us are determined to put things right.”
Newcastle face in-form Liverpool this Sunday before a tough trip to Tottenham. The final game before Christmas is at home to the league’s bottom club Aston Villa.
McClaren is under mounting pressure to drop skipper Fabricio Coloccini and Moussa Sissoko – seen by supporters as the Toon’s biggest underachievers this term.
Midfiedler Sissoko faces being replaced by Siem de Jong, but a lack of alternatives could spare centre-back Coloccini the axe.