McClaren planning for January but won’t write off Thauvin

Steve McClaren says Newcastle United are making plans for the January transfer window – but he is hopeful a signing from the summer could yet prove a key player.

Newcastle are fourth from bottom in the Premier League, only two points clear of danger, having won only four of their 17 games so far this season.

McClaren could be without striker Papiss Cisse through injury over the Christmas period, but the former England boss is remaining tight-lipped over what the club may or may not do in the January transfer market.

McClaren said: “Privately behind the scenes, we are planning, but until things happen, we will say nothing.

“To be fair, that is my policy. I don’t like speculation that we are going to do this or going to do that. The window is not open, we still have two games before it opens.

“Believe you me, we are talking all the time behind [closed doors]. We don’t plan to do anything in public.”

Florian Thauvin was one of four senior players to join the club during the summer in the first of what McClaren said at the time would be a two or three-window recruitment programme at the start of his reign.

The 22-year-old Frenchman, a £12million acquisition from Marseille, has been unable to force his way into the team, but McClaren is hoping there is more to come from a player that produced an encouraging cameo performance after being introduced as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Asked if it is too early to write off the former Bastia and Lille player, McClaren said: “Too soon, too soon.

“I have to say the first game against Northampton [in the Capital One Cup], I thought he was outstanding. But he has just not kicked on. Some players are like that. They give you that then they dip. Some don’t then come.

“I see definite signs of his adaptation in the last few weeks, certainly in terms of training and certainly on Saturday. When he came on, he was excellent.”

Thauvin is slight in build and has had to work on his physical strength and presence, and McClaren is convinced the penny has dropped for him in terms of what he needs to do on and off the pitch.

He said: “Funnily enough, I was talking to him today about it. We did some training today and yeah, he is getting stronger, working harder in the gym, understanding where he needs to keep the ball and where he needs to try things.”