Coloccini eager to remain a Newcastle player – McClaren

Newcastle United will resist any attempt by Crystal Palace to sign Fabricio Coloccini – as the defender wants to finish his career at St James’s Park.

“I have spoken to him several times”. He’s coming to the end of his career, and he wants to finish it here. I have said “great, that will do me”.

Who is responsible for the chaotic pre season schedule, which Steve McClaren says has cost him at least a week with the players due to the trip to America when it’s a very short pre season (including agreeing to play on a plastic pitch that half the team couldn’t be risked on)?

Former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is understood to be interested in taking his former captain – who has one year left on his contract – to Selhurst Park. “I know there has been a lot of speculation, but my indication is he wants to stay here and take the club forward”.

McClaren, however, does not plan to arrange a full-scale practice match for Coloccini.

It means he is unlikely to figure in their Premier League opener against Southampton on Sunday, although McClaren said: “We will assess him and see how he trains”.

When asked if Coloccini would remain at the club, the 54-year-old told reporters: “I don’t see why not”. I know what a great, tremendous place it can be.’.

McClaren, still looking to add more players despite apparently opting against matching the valuation of Austin, was impressed with what Mitrovic showed to the fans after replacing Papiss Cisse. I think you saw that when he came on.

“He is an old-type centre forward and is only 20 years old”, said McClaren.

“A lot of them still need work, and we have to get the work in pretty quick”. “I hope Colo will be training with us on Tuesday”.

Who is coaching the goalkeepers and why was the Andy Woodman situation allowed to drag on until a week before the start of the season?

Borussia Monchengladbach (4-4-2): Sommer; Jantschke (Brouwers 76), Christensen, Schulz (Nordtveit 76), Wendt (Dominguez 61); Traore (Ritter 84), Xhaka (Korb 76), Dahoud (Johnson 61), Herrmann (Drmic 61); Stindl, Raffael (Hazard 61).