AT his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game at Manchester United, Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren found himself fielding questions about the need for another defensive addition ahead of the transfer deadline.

The feeling was that despite a net summer spend of almost £50m, the Magpies remained short of options in the back four, particularly at centre-half.

As he ponders his side for next weekend’s Premier League game against Arsenal, however, McClaren does not find himself scrambling around for a central defender. Instead, his biggest headache is suddenly who to leave out.

It would be dangerous to get too carried away by one performance – albeit one that was significantly superior to what most people were expecting before kick-off – but Newcastle’s defensive display at Old Trafford on Saturday nevertheless provided a timely rebuttal to those who were citing the previous weekend’s capitulation against Swansea as evidence of a deep-rooted defensive problem.

Fabricio Coloccini was back to his very best as the Magpies successfully shackled a Manchester United attack featuring their nemesis, Wayne Rooney, and as skipper, the Argentinian is sure to retain his place against Arsenal.

Who should play alongside him though? Steven Taylor could hardly have done any more as he made his first start of the season, and while the 29-year-old has dropped some high-profile clangers in the past, on his day he remains one of the best defenders in the Newcastle squad.

His commitment and passion are not in doubt, but Saturday’s composed and concentrated performance suggests that as he prepares to enter his 30s, he has perhaps discovered a new maturity that will translate onto the field. His refusal to leap into unnecessary challenges was certainly welcome.

No one could really complain if he retained his place in the starting line-up to face Arsenal, but with Daryl Janmaat seemingly certain to return to the right-back berth following a ban, that would mean Chancel Mbemba dropping out of the starting XI.

Mbemba impressed as a makeshift right-back at the weekend, and while his performance at Swansea was somewhat rocky, he has bedded in reasonably effectively following his £8m arrival from Anderlecht.

Would McClaren want to disrupt that process by dropping him down to the bench? Or will Taylor prove to be the fall guy despite his excellent display at Old Trafford?

Newcastle have a Capital One Cup tie against Northampton to negotiate first, but the make-up of McClaren’s back four for the Arsenal game will provide a firm indication of how he sees his defence lining up for the majority of the campaign.

And whatever he chooses, another defensive performance like Saturday’s will make another high-profile addition before September 1 all the more unlikely.