STEVE McCLAREN has warned his Newcastle United players they will be coming up against one of England’s all-time greats when they take on Manchester United in today’s lunch-time kick-off at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney has already claimed 12 Premier League goals against the Magpies in a Manchester United shirt, and the England skipper will be determined to add to his tally as Louis van Gaal’s side attempt to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Rooney’s lacklustre performances in his side’s opening three matches have been roundly condemned, but having worked with the 29-year-old during his time as England manager, McClaren feels the striker is often the focus of unwarranted criticism.

Next month’s international double-header with San Marino and Switzerland will see Rooney attempt to claim the two goals he needs to overhaul Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goalscoring record for England, and once he passes the landmark, McClaren hopes the Liverpudlian will be rightly lauded as one of the greatest players this country has ever produced.

“Unfortunately, he is one of those types where whatever he does, he will be criticised,” said the Newcastle head coach. “But believe me, he won’t give a damn about that.

“He has to be right up there as one of England’s best. Look at the record - that speaks for itself. However much you may criticise, when he is finished and you look back, he will be one of the greatest ever to play for England. He may not be appreciated now, but he will be in ten years time.

“That is always the way of things, and his best is probably still to come. People say he has never delivered on the big stage, but in Portugal in 2004 (at the European Championships), that was his tournament only for him to pick up that injury. You wonder what might have happened. We thought we had a real chance with this boy.

“As for not delivering in tournaments, it is a team game and all too often, the team has not delivered in major finals so it is very difficult for him. It is the same thing that is levelled at (Lionel) Messi. Footballers are never fully appreciated at the time, but he will be in ten years.”

Rooney’s performances so far this season have been eclipsed by those of summer signing Memphis Depay, and McClaren will be hoping Newcastle’s recent additions make a positive impression of their own this afternoon.

Georginio Wijnaldum will attempt to eclipse his compatriot, Depay, in Newcastle’s ‘number ten’ role, while Chancel Mbemba will be charged with the task of helping to contain Rooney, whether as a centre-half alongside Fabricio Coloccini or as the right-back replacement for the suspended Daryl Janmaat.

Janmaat’s red card in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Swansea has exposed a lack of options at right-back, and with Mike Williamson expected to leave Tyneside before the end of the transfer window, Newcastle are hardly overrun with centre-halves either.

McClaren has discussed the defensive situation with managing director Lee Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr, but with this summer’s net outlay already standing at more than £46m, the trio have concluded that there is no pressing need for further additions ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1.

There is still an outside chance that a defender could arrive in the next ten days, but as things stand, McClaren does not anticipate any more signings.

“We have talked about that (the defensive side of things), but our squad is big enough at the moment,” he said. “There are ten days to go so anything can happen, but right now, we sit tight.

“I’m very pleased with what we’ve got, very pleased. I think that’s it for now, but how many times have you heard, ‘That’s it for now’ with ten days of the window to go?

“We are not expecting, we are not chasing anything. We are not trying to make things happen. Usually with ten days to go things might happen, but at the moment we are delighted with what we have.”

McClaren spent two years at Old Trafford as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, but despite speculation that he was positioning himself to replace the legendary Scot when he took over at Middlesbrough and England, he insists he was never attracted by the prospect of taking charge of Manchester United.

“I never really wanted to go back there as manager,” he said. “For once in my life, I was sensible! I wasn’t even 40 years old when I went there. I had come from nowhere as a coach, but the experience I had with those players, that size of club and that manager gave me the platform to go on.”

Siem de Jong is part of today’s squad after recovering from a shin injury, but Moussa Sissoko faces a late fitness test as he battles against a groin problem.