STEVE McCLAREN thinks Jonjo Shelvey’s arrival at St James’ Park combined with a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester United has laid the foundations for Newcastle United to launch a successful fight to beat the drop in the Premier League.

Shelvey was paraded in front of the fans on Tyneside after completing his £12m move from Swansea City before the Magpies came from behind twice to claim a valuable point against a Wayne Rooney-inspired Red Devils.

His arrival follows on from Monday’s capture of £4.4m Senegal midfielder Henri Saivet, and both players should make their debuts in the home game with West Ham United on Saturday.

The acquisition of Shelvey has been one of those which McClaren has been driving for in the boardroom and he thinks he will be a significant addition to his playing staff during a year when the player hopes to play for England in the European Championships.

“We tried to get Jonjo in the summer and we are delighted to get him now,” said McClaren. “He is 23, he is English and in the England team. I think he has more to come.

“He is a young player who wants to be in the England squad for the Euros. He has a lot of fight and that will be a benefit to us because this is another stepping stone for him (to get in the England squad).

“We hope he is successful here. It was important to get an English player in, to show what we are about and what we want to do. I couldn’t believe it when we got him. I didn’t think they would sell him.”

Shelvey, who has had spells with Charlton and Liverpool, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal and has six international caps.

Shelvey said: "I'm very excited to be here. I'm so glad that it's finally done. I drove up through the night to be here so it's been a manic 24 hours but it's all been worth it to come here and play for this great club."

Newcastle are still looking at further additions with a new striker and winger possibly in their sights. There is also interest in Cheik Tiote from Shanghai, with an £8m offer talked about.

But after Tiote impressed against Manchester United, McClaren said: “We are not sure. When something happens we will see. Cheik has been very good in the last two or three games for us.”

With Swansea set to face Sunderland on Wednesday night, Newcastle could not afford to lose a fifth game in a row and the players showed a determination to get a result.

First of all Newcastle pulled level when Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic cancelled out the visitors’ two-goal lead secured by Rooney and Jesse Lingard’s goals.

And, after Rooney had powered Manchester United ahead again 11 minutes before the end, Newcastle fought back once more to claim a point when Paul Dummett crashed in a brilliant equaliser in the 90th minute.

McClaren said: “I have calmed down a little. I said beforehand ‘Manchester United, 53,000 people, on TV, let’s show what we are all about here at Newcastle and how this season we can show character and quality’. They have shown everything tonight. Everything.

“They have started the game well and actually we have had more possession than Manchester United. We have played football from the beginning, we have gone behind, come back, got another blow and deserved to equalise at the end.

“We have demonstrated for the last eight or nine weeks we have character, it was questioned after Leicester and Crystal Palace, but they have responded after that to show real character. They have not got the rewards after that. Tonight it was important we didn’t lose it and to score in the last minute felt like we had won it.”

Newcastle remain a point adrift of safety, although that could become four if Swansea beat Sunderland, while Manchester United are sixth having played a game more than fourth-placed Tottenham.

Louis van Gaal, the Red Devils boss, blamed his side’s wastefulness in front of goal, as well as referee Mike Dean’s decision to award Newcastle a penalty when Chris Smalling man-handled Mitrovic in the box.

Dean had earlier pointed to the spot when Chancel Mbemba’s arm stopped Marouane Fellaini’s header, while he waved away a couple of others.

Van Gaal said: “Mbemba was putting his hand to the ball and Fellaini couldn’t head the ball. He did it with purpose, conscience.

“Lingard against Daryl Janmaat … that could have been a penalty. If he whistles then I could not have said anything.

“But you see that Mitrovic is clearly pushing the head of Smalling to the ground, after that then they are both heavyweight champions of the world and you see who is and that was Smalling in his eyes. I can’t understand why that was given