STEVE McCLAREN has asked Newcastle United supporters not to blame Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole for sidelining Jack Colback – and has backed Vurnon Anita to fill the void.

It has been confirmed Colback will definitely miss the next six weeks with a knee ligament injury and that he will do well to be in full flow before Christmas.

The injury was sustained when Cattermole tackled him from the side during last weekend’s defeat at the Stadium of Light for the Magpies, where McClaren felt there was an injustice in the 3-0 scoreline.

But McClaren, who does have skipper Fabricio Coloccini available for Saturday’s visit of Stoke after his red card was overturned, said: “Jack is one of our leaders and a very good midfield player, but this gives other people an opportunity to come in and establish themselves.

“Don't apportion any blame to Lee Cattermole. It was a fair tackle and Jack said it was.”

Anita, the little Dutch midfielder, is one of those who could slot in and replace Colback at the heart of the midfield alongside Cheik Tiote against the Potters.

The Northern Echo: MORE TO COME: Vurnon Anita

Vurnon Anita - done well this season

McClaren said: “Vurnon has done very well this season. It's just at some stages we have needed a more attacking midfield player there and he's been sacrificed for that.

“But in every game, he's been great for us. He's very disciplined, knows the job and does the job. He's a tough character and someone who, without Jack, we will need him in the up and coming games.”

Newcastle are in desperate need of responding to the defeat to Sunderland by collecting three points against Stoke to boost the chances of climbing out of the bottom three.

There have been positive signs in the last few weeks from the players and McClaren is certain fortunes could be about to change, having felt his team deserved something last Sunday on Wearside.

“It's one of the strangest derbies I've ever been in,” he said. “It was bizarre. It had everything and was great for the neutral, but not for our fans. We have to take the positives and see if the team has progressed - and the answer is ‘yes’.

“I will still dispute the penalty (when Coloccini barged Steven Fletcher over), but it was definitely not a goalscoring opportunity. It spoilt the game for us in terms of being a football match.

McClaren also confirmed goalkeeper Karl Darlow is still ‘a week or two’ away from fitness and that Newcastle remain ‘short in that area’.