Newcastle United is on the hunt for English recruits, insists Steve McClaren after club starts season with least home-grown talent

Newcastle visit Swansea after 2-2 draw with Southampton in round one
In that match, Newcastle started with one Englishman – Jack Colback
Record low of 33 per cent English players kicked off Premier League
Steve McClaren said he’s keen to boost the local players in his side

Craig Hope for the Daily Mail

Published:
21:30 GMT, 14 August 2015

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Updated:
02:06 GMT, 15 August 2015

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Steve McClaren has insisted that Newcastle United aim to increase the number of English players at the club after starting with just one on the opening weekend of the season, the lowest number in the Premier League.

Only 73 of the 220 players who kicked off the new top-flight campaign were English, a record low of 33 per cent.

Head coach McClaren named Jack Colback as the sole Englishman in the side that drew 2-2 at home to Southampton.

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Jack Colback was the only Englishman in Newcastle’s starting XI in their Premier League season opener

Former England boss Steve McClaren says he has discussed boosting the number of local players at the club

The former England boss said he is not too concerned, given that his priorities now lie with the Magpies, but admitted he has spoken with United’s hierarchy about bringing through more homegrown players.

‘The FA and England are a bit more concerned but as a club manager you have your own focus. Still, we are very aware of the need for young English players coming through,’ said McClaren.

‘It’s one of the things I’ve discussed with Lee Charnley (managing director), in terms of providing a platform in the scouting and recruitment system.

‘In a few years the quotas say you’ll have to have more home-grown players. It’s something we need to address once this window is closed.’

The 54-year-old, who was in charge of the national team for 16 months from May 2006, takes his team to Swansea on Saturday where their manager, Garry Monk, is being tipped as a future England head coach. McClaren, though, has warned the 36-year-old against being lured by the role.

Asked if he would advise Monk against England, he said: ‘Definitely. I was a bit older when I got the job but Garry would be the first to admit he’s not ready yet.

‘He’s doing very well at Swansea. He’s signed a long contract and he’s at a good club. He’s best off where he is for now. Not many could do it at that age.

‘He’s a breath of fresh air. Swansea have consolidated and got into Europe. That’s huge credit to the chairman, but also to the manager.’

McClaren says he would advise Swansea boss Garry Monk against taking over the England side if offered

Meanwhile, McClaren says he will not try to curb the aggression of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was booked inside a record 2.7 seconds of his Premier League debut against the Saints.

‘I think he will get red and yellow cards,’ he admitted of his £12.5million signing. ‘We can’t take away that kind of devil (in him).’

For his part, Monk believes Newcastle are already benefiting from McClaren’s appointment.

McClaren says he won’t try to curb the aggression of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who made this tackle on Southampton’s Matt Targett just a few seconds into his Premier League career

Referee Craig Pawson issued a straight forward yellow card to the fiery Serbian forward Mitrovic

Monk has never met McClaren but says he is prepared for a tough tactical examination on Saturday.

‘Steve has been a national manager and coached at the top level so you expect him to be tactically clever,’ said Monk.

‘It will be interesting to see how he reacts to certain situations, how he changes it if it’s going good or bad for them and then how you react to that.

‘Newcastle have always been a big club and attract good players but they’ve added quality this summer.