Atmosphere at Newcastle ‘extremely heated’

Ian Watson

Training at Newcastle has been beset by angry exchanges between players and staff after Steve McClaren lambasted his squad’s attitude.

McClaren is understood to be furious with his players due to the lack of fight shown in the 3-0 home defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.

The former England manager slammed the showing as Newcastle’s “worst performance of the season” and has voiced some home truths in training in an attempt to provoke a reaction against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

According to The Telegraph, there have been a series of “extremely heated” exchanges between the coaching team and players.

McClaren is reportedly most incensed by the senior players at St James’ Park, who he believes cannot perform when the pressure is on – a huge problem given the club are set to be embroiled in yet another relegation battle this season.

Fans are likely to back the manager’s tough stance, upset with a squad which has won only four league matches since the start of 2015.