STEVE McCLAREN insists he is the right man to keep Newcastle United in the Premier League and is desperate for a mid-season lift to get things going – just like Wigan once earned.

The Magpies boss was desperately frustrated by the manner of the Magpies’ midweek crushing at Everton, which has left them two points adrift of safety ahead of this afternoon’s visit of 14th-placed West Bromwich Albion.

But the shambolic display at Goodison Park, in which McClaren claimed his side lost the ability to pass properly, provided a reminder of how quickly things can turn around having had a post-match chat with Roberto Martinez.

The Spaniard was in charge of Wigan four years ago when they were in an even worse situation than Newcastle. The Latics had taken 22 points from their first 29 games, compared to 21 from 24 for the Tyneside club, but took 21 points in the run-in to climb seven clear of the bottom three.

Martinez can see similarities between the Wigan team Martinez fielded at the time to that which McClaren is throwing into action this time – even though Newcastle are the biggest spenders in the country.

McClaren said: “Roberto Martinez said ‘you lot remind me of Wigan in those years we were in the bottom three for most of the season and the last ten games we pulled some results together and got out of it’.

“Wigan had the talent, and decided the last ten games of the season to come together as a team. I said: ‘If you had seen us two weeks ago … which he did because he said ‘yeah, they've got the team, the talent, they'll be alright’. But we didn't see it on Wednesday. We need more consistency.”

Wigan went down the following year and McClaren said: “Eventually. Absolutely. And that is something we have to avoid.”

The manner of Newcastle’s display at Everton, however, raised concern among the club’s supporters. After spending another £29m in January with the acquisitions of Jonjo Shelvey, Henri Saivet, Andros Townsend and Seydou Doumbia, the supporters are expecting greater results.

McClaren’s tactics – particularly like playing Ayoze Perez up front, with Townsend on the left and substitute Rolando Aarons as a left-back – caused a stir but he believes he can lead Newcastle to brighter times.

He said: “I honestly do. Especially with what we signed. They have added to us. We have 12 injuries at the moment which no one really takes into account but we bypass that and we expect the majority of them to come back and that makes it a strong squad.

“Then we might not have to risk players too much (when injured). We have a squad to be bang, we have got 12 games to go and whether you are going for the championship or whatever, you need to be in a good position with ten games to go.

“We have to scrap and fight in the next two games and get into that position, so the next game we are in better nick.

“No excuses. We are all in this together. That is what I said to the players at the end of last season. Everyone in Newcastle decided to put everything aside and say do you know what ... let's make this a good day. That’s what we need again on Saturday.”

Despite the most recent slump of just one win in nine games, and the big spending, McClaren claims he does not fear for his job.

And he is certain that the woeful performance at Everton was a one off, even if the league position and overall results this season do not paint a great picture either.

He said: “The biggest thing on reflection on the game is how we never passed the ball, we never kept the ball. You can't do that away from home and when you talk about 'we're fighting', there's a different kind of character here.

“It's courage, the courage to want to take the ball. That was the disappointing thing for me. On the ball, we've got talented players, we should be better than we were on Wednesday. “Hurt was well expressed. It was one of reflection, one of surprise because we usually pass the ball better than that.

“It was strange. It was strange. Usually in terms of possession – I mean we can lose duels but in terms of playing football and keeping the ball, generally we're OK. And that's a big part of the rest of the season.”

McClaren also hinted Aleksandar Mitrovic could be thrust back into the starting line-up at the top of the system, having left him out for tactical reasons at Everton. Doumbia, the loan signing from Roma, is still not deemed full match fit but will be on the bench.