STEVE McCLAREN feels that he has a Newcastle United squad capable of making progress in both cup competitions while also remaining competitive in the Premier League.

McClaren took over as head coach in the summer and immediately gave greater importance to the cups, with both Alan Pardew and John Carver having been told in the past that the knock-out competitions were merely a distraction.

However, there has been a step change at St James’ Park, and having won the League Cup before with Middlesbrough, McClaren is keen to bring success to Tyneside in similar circumstances.

"As a football manager, wherever I have gone the cup competitions have always been important, not so much, in terms of winning the cup but winning a football match,” said McClaren, ahead of tonight’s visit of Northampton Town. "No matter what, you don't put a team out where you are not sure if they will win today.

"I think that has always been the case here.

"[The cup] has always been important, the Premier League is always the priority.

"But the cup, especially early on in the season, is very good to boost morale, keep momentum going or get momentum.

"One thing I have always said to all the players, is to win anything in the league takes 38 games, to win a cup could be six or seven. Put yourself on the line for those games. But right now we are not thinking of anything, bar tonight's game. If we don't treat it right, they can hurt us."

McClaren did not think that Newcastle were the only club to have a policy where the cups were de-prioritised. "I think the only difference was probably that they voiced it,” said the former Manchester United assistant.

"Other clubs kept it quiet. There were times at my first year at Middlesbrough, and the Carling Cup was used to blood youngsters. It depends on what squad you have.

"But the priority was always the Premier League, next Saturday, the next game.

"The Carling Cup for us, in the first couple of years at Middlesbrough, was an opportunity to look at the youngsters and use the squad, we didn't have such a good squad.

"I believe here we have got a strong squad. You should be heavily incentivised to win a cup, I think it is important.

"Whether this club had a policy that it was not bothered or it is, it is still important.

"It is still a football match and I hate losing."

McClaren has experience of both winning a league title with FC Twente, and a cup with Middlesbrough, but looks back with fond memories of his first silverware in club management when Boro beat Bolton Wanderers at the Millennium Stadium

"Winning a league, I can guarantee you, is far harder,” said McClaren. "But to win that trophy was huge. From going from a Number Two to a Number One, questions are always asked of you.

"Winning something just gives you that experience, you know then, what it takes to win a cup. That is why the experience of winning a league was also important.

"I know now what it takes to win a league.

"I was fortunate to learn that early on as an assistant at Manchester United, I have been very fortunate in my career to have opportunities to win something."

Newcastle’s previous domestic cup success came in 1955 with victory in the FA Cup, but Boro were made to wait longer for their maiden success – and McClaren hopes the wait on Tyneside will not be as long.

"When I was at Middlesbrough, it was the first major trophy in 128 years and to be perfectly honest they had been to Wembley quite a few times and had opportunities,” said McClaren, who managed Boro from 2002 to 2006.

"They were very close. 128 years, I hope we don't have to wait that long.

"I have not even thought about dreaming of Wembley. The fans probably have, but lets get the first round out of the way first.

"Really, at this stage, it is just about winning matches and you don't start dreaming of anything else until later on."

McClaren will look to include new signing Florian Thauvin against the Cobblers, with Mike Williamson expected to come into the side at the expense of Fabricio Coloccini, but admitted that the exertions against Manchester United will affect his decision for tonight.

"I think we will be good enough to cope with them but we are going to use the full squad,” said McClaren. "It will be a strong team and a strong bench.”