STEVE McCLAREN has described this week’s training sessions as “feisty and intensive”, but denied there was anything out of the ordinary about Newcastle United’s response to last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Leicester City.

McClaren presided over a number of heated exchanges at Newcastle’s Benton training base in the early part of the week, and is understood to have challenged a number of senior players to account for their poor performances last weekend.

The Magpies head coach has demanded a marked improvement in terms of effort and intensity when his side return to action at Crystal Palace tomorrow, with tempers having become frayed on more than occasion as he delivered some harsh home truths this week.

McClaren accepts there has been an edge to the atmosphere in training in the last few days, but claims to have been delighted with his players’ response to their dressing down.

He said: “We have had a great week on the training pitch. It has been feisty, competitive and energetic – all the things we lacked last Saturday.

“I love feisty sessions, and it was. We got the message across, and that was just what we needed. We explained why we lost (to Leicester), and for three days we have been sorting it out.

“It is one of those weeks that coaches like. We needed it, and the energy is what we want.

“There have probably been three or four occasions since I have been here when I have been disappointed with the attitude. Last weekend was one of those. I had not seen it for a while, but we have talked about it.”

McClaren suffered a training ground setback, however, when Massadio Haidara damaged his knee ligaments in what had initially appeared to be an innocuous incident.

The full-back will undergo surgery in France next week, and is expected to be sidelined for up to four months, which will mean he misses the remainder of the season.

McClaren said: “Massadio has had an accident in midweek, and it’s damaged his knee. He’s having an operation in France, and we’re expecting him to be out for three or four months.”

Jack Colback has trained for the last three days and is available for tomorrow’s trip to Selhurst Park, but Cheick Tiote misses out after sustaining an injury in last weekend’s home defeat.