STEVE McCLAREN has ordered his Newcastle United players to report for a special Sunday training session in the wake of their 5-1 hammering at Crystal Palace.

McClaren has told his squad to report to the club’s Benton training ground tomorrow instead of having their scheduled day off.

The Magpies head coach made the decision in the wake of a desperate display at Selhurst Park that saw Newcastle drop back into the bottom three.

Despite leading through Papiss Cisse, Newcastle conceded goals to James McArthur (2), Yannick Bolasie (2) and Wilfried Zaha as Crystal Palace tore them apart at will.

McClaren said: “I’m hurting – not for me, but for the fans who have come a long way. We knew this was a tough job, but it’s getting tougher by the week.

“The players will be back to work tomorrow morning. We hadn’t planned that, but we’re doing it especially (because of the manner of the defeat).

“It’s not right. The fans have travelled a long way and we need to sort it out. We can only do that on the training field, and within the group. We have to come through together.”