McClaren admits Magpies are closing in on 'one or two' new recruits

McClaren, speaking after weeks of secrecy since taking over after inviting members of the media for an open training session, has been receiving updates on the search for new faces from managing director Lee Charnley.

And Newcastle have had detailed discussions with PSV Eindhoven for Giorginio Wijnaldum over a £15m move, as well as talks with Anderlecht for Aleksandar Mitrovic recently. There has also been talks this summer for QPR striker Charlie Austin and Wolfsburg’s Bas Dost.

And McClaren said: “It's about getting the right players here. There has been a lot of speculation and we are close on one or two. But in the transfer market, you can be close or you can be miles away.

“It doesn't really matter at one point, just so long as we get the right players. But it would be nice if we could get one or two; if not, we'll just have to be a little bit more patient and make sure we get the right players.”

Newcastle face Gateshead on Friday night in what will be McClaren’s first friendly in charge and he intends to give all of his available players a run out ahead of the tour to the United States.

It is almost a month since he started the job and just over a week since the players returned for pre-season training and McClaren has enjoyed it.

He said: “It's tremendous. As always with a new group of players, the enthusiasm is there from everybody, including the coaches, and that's the most important thing. This is where the work is done.

“The work is done on the field and it is preparation in pre-season for the rest of the season, and the boys are working tremendously hard.

“These players are technical anyway – it's a good squad of players, good players. We are just getting them fit, organising them, just putting the job descriptions inside them, what they have to do on a Saturday.

“That starts on the training field and the lads are focussing, concentrating, playing at a good tempo – and these are good players.”