Mitrovic can become Newcastle’s Lukaku: McClaren

Everton have shown plenty of promise and looked unsafe on numerous occasions throughout the campaign, but have struggled for consistency and sit ninth after 18 matches.

The Merseyside club triumphed 1-0 at St James’ Park thanks to Tom Cleverley’s 93rd-minute header, ending a run of four matches without a win. He has 13 goals and four assists this season so far and it looks like he can’t stop scoring.

“We just have to do our job that we normally do between games, recover, prepare them for the next one and throw them out and perform”.

Everton also felt they should have had a penalty after Romelu Lukaku went down under a challenge from United captain Fabricio Coloccini, but erratic referee Lee Mason waved play on. They came out of the blocks quicker than us, they controlled possession.

The Magpies head into their Boxing Day clash with Everton sitting in 17th place in the Barclays Premier League table and having won just eight games in all competitions during the calendar year to date.

Last Meeting: A 3-2 victory in this fixture last season turned out to be Alan Pardew’s last game in charge of Newcastle. Even Leicester’s is a simple game plan, but very effective if you’ve got the right players, who are talented, athletic and robust.

“This result is an accumulation of lessons we have learned and that’s very pleasing as a manager looking at your players wanting to take responsibility and get better”. “If you don’t then you’re frustrated when you don’t”, McClaren continued.

The game will be broadcast on NBC proper, not NBC Sports Network where the Premier League is typically televised.

Substitute Tom Carroll added a third in the 80th minute, getting his first Premier League goal with a well-struck shot from outside the area. “But whatever’s going to happen in our future is going to be good because we’re in a great position and the football club is in the best possible hands”.

McClaren said: “We’re working and working and seeing the progress”.

Everton are without Phil Jagielka and Bryan Oviedo, but Steven Naismith could return from an ankle injury.

The hosts were on the back foot for much of the game as Elliott denied Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas twice each, as well as Aaron Lennon and defender Ramiro Funes Mori, and Newcastle could have won it themselves as Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum went close.