PICTURE the scene: Newcastle United are in need of a positive result on the final day of the Premier League season to preserve top-flight status.

Supporters of the Magpies will not need too much imagination to remember such a scenario. After all it was only in May when Newcastle had to secure a result against West Ham United to stay in the Premier League.

It might have been John Carver’s final game in charge because of a woeful attempt to stay in the job, but Newcastle did just enough to stay up.

Carver has been criticised for what he did, but in many ways he laid the foundations for a positive start to the McClaren era. Owner Mike Ashley, who remains disliked around St James’ Park, was given a wake-up call and he has backed his latest appointment this summer.

Newcastle could do with more new signings before the transfer window closes on September 1, but McClaren has spent more money already this summer than any other Newcastle boss has been afforded under Ashley.

That in itself is progress. And is an indication that the sportswear tycoon genuinely feared Newcastle could have fallen out of the most lucrative domestic league anywhere in the world last season.

He has not only got the head coach he has wanted since Alan Pardew left, he has also attracted a few highly-sought after European talents for him to call on.

Regardless of who else arrives in the coming weeks, Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba’s arrivals at a cost of more than £30m represents a change of approach from Ashley. Now, with the first ball of the season about to be kicked, it will be interesting to see how serious he is about ending the long wait for silverware on Tyneside.

McClaren has made it clear that he would love to win either the FA Cup or the Capital One Cup, with the memories of being the first Middlesbrough manager to win a major trophy back in 2004 still strong.

Knowing how fanatical the Newcastle supporters are, he thinks one of the best ways to win the Geordie faithful over will be to launch a serious push for silverware. Not even Kevin Keegan, whose time in charge during the nineties is still regarded as one of the finest in the club’s history, could end the trophy drought.

McClaren has done his homework and realises he would become the first Newcastle boss to win a domestic trophy since 1955, which is a quite staggering record given the huge following the club has and the calibre of players which have pulled on the black and white shirt over the years.

A top eight finish is also in the sights of the former England boss, knowing Ashley has made that a top target because of the financial guarantees it brings.

McClaren is well aware, though, that the two can go hand in hand and lifting a trophy at Wembley would mean more to him than finishing eighth in the Premier League. Now if only he can deliver.