Krul’s loss could hardly have come at a worse time with Newcastle sitting at the foot of the Premier League table without a win to their name and only three points to show from their opening eight fixtures.
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“But I always believed, given the opportunity, I wanted to do that”.
McClaren said: “It’s a massive blow for us, you’re talking about one of the best players in our team”.
However, he admits he always had one eye on St James’ Park and despite a poor start to his reign on Tyneside, he is desperate to get it right after being granted his wish to work in the Barclays Premier League once again.
Steve McClaren is now without a win in 12 Premier League games (D5 L7), including spells at Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
He said: “When you have worked with the national team, you never get bigger batterings than that”. I’ve joined a club which I’ve wanted to, even for the last 15 years. When I was younger I wanted to do it for myself.
“I hope Chris managed to get a few people around him in Northern Ireland to follow the Toon Army too and hope their support continues in his memory”.
Back in 2003, for example, Christophe Dugarry moved to Birmingham City on loan from Bordeaux and was instrumental in the club’s Premier League survival.
“Yeah, he’s a good kid and he’s got ability. that’s what we saw, which I think was important, in the first couple of games”, McClaren told the Chronicle.
McClaren has also reaffirmed the need for patience, claiming that the board seem to share his philosophy for the future of the club.
“And now you have to say, “Well, you know what, it will take a long time and it will take three transfer windows”. I’ve been impressed with Lee Charnley [the chief executive] from day one in terms of his vision and what he wants for the club.
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Elliot could be in for a run of games in Newcastle’s first-team, as Krul and Darlow both have suffered long-term injuries.
