Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Steve McClaren believes he is at the “halfway stage” of his on-field remodelling of Newcastle United’s playing style.

The former England boss took over at St James’ Park in June with the club in a fractured state following an alarming six-month slide down the Premier League table and a frightening flirtation with the Championship during John Carver’s tenure.

While five players were recruited over the summer for an outlay of more than £50million, McClaren also went about restructuring the club off the field.

However, results - and style - on the field are also things that McClaren is keen to address as soon as possible, starting with the trip to West Ham United on Monday night.

McClaren and his assistant head coach Ian Cathro are determined to implement a passing, possession-style attacking game at Newcastle, though United have yet to win a Premier League game so far this season.

More worrying perhaps is the fact they haven’t managed a shot on target in either of their last two outings, but McClaren is certainly not panicking and is adamant the change in style will bear fruit given time.

The United head coach told The Chronicle: “(We’re) probably about halfway in terms of remodelling things (on the field).

“That’s purely because of the short pre-season and because for two games we’ve played with 10 men.”

During both their defeats this season Newcastle have been down to 10 men for more than 45 minutes and McClaren knows that has prevented his side from developing their new approach to games.

He wants to build on the “spirit” shown by his charges during those defeats, though he also wants to see his side become more of an attacking threat and more attractive to watch in possession.

Read more:

He continued: “We’ve not got a true picture of our capabilities in terms of an attacking force so I think that we’d like over the next few games to have evidence and see that.

“Yeah okay keep that spirit, keep that organisation, stay in games and fight for 95 minutes and things.

“And now let’s play our own football, create chances and score goals.”

Next up for Newcastle is a trip to Upton Park to face West Ham, who themselves have had a frankly bizarre beginning to the campaign.

The Hammers have lost at home to Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth, yet they have travelled to both Arsenal and Liverpool and returned to east London with all three points.

With Newcastle still searching for their first league victory of the season, McClaren is keen for his side to settle into their rhythm early at the Boleyn Ground.

This game also presents a new challenge for McClaren this season - it is the first evening fixture he has overseen since taking over as United boss in the summer.

Newcastle have had two 12.45pm kick-offs (against Manchester United and Arsenal), one 3pm kick-off (away at Swansea City) and a 1.30pm kick-off on a Sunday afternoon (at home to Southampton) so far this campaign.

And McClaren says preparation will not change much at all despite the alteration in time because players are now so used to varying kick-off slots across a Premier League weekend.

McClaren added: “No (there’ll be very little change to preparation), not really.

“The Premier League’s always different.

“You get games on a Friday now.

“And we’ve played two games now, 12.45pm, and two at 3pm (actually one) but it’s changed so much in terms of when you play that players just have to adapt and cope with that every single week.”