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Moussa Sissoko has welcomed Steve McClaren to Newcastle – and insisted that playing regularly is the most important thing to him next season as he heads in Euro 2016.

Sissoko admits that he doesn’t know much about McClaren, a former Derby County, England and Middlesbrough manager, but he says he is “happy” for the soon-to-be Newcastle head coach.

Surely keeping hold of Sissoko is going to be a key priority for McClaren, and the noises coming from the midfielder seem a lot more positive than they did.

He admits he had a “tough” second half of the season, but says that the guarantee of regular first team football is likely to sway his thoughts. Paris Saint Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool have previously been linked with Sissoko.

On McClaren, he said: “I do not know this manager. I’m happy for him, but I’ll see after.

“As for my future, it’s something I think about. The coach Didier Deschamps said the 2015-2016 season will be very important and playing regularly is going to be important.

“Now I have this chance in Newcastle. First of all I want to try to finish this season well with France then I’ll talk with my uncle, who is also my agent, and make the right decision after a holiday which I really need.”

(Image: Reuters / Andrew Yates)

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A break is required because United, and Sissoko too, really tailed off in the second half of the campaign.

“I had a very tough second half of season with my club both physically and mentally where there was a lot of pressure as we tried to stay in the Premier League.

“I am relieved and happy that this has ended well. Now I have the chance to be with France and it’s very different. There are two games that come (Sunday against Belgium and Saturday, June 13 in Albania) and it’s always a pleasure to be involved with the France team.

“I still have that same mentality to want to work thoroughly even if I play one minute, one hour or more.”

The 25-year-old also dodged questions about whether he was aiming to play Champions League football next season.

“For sure I would like next season to go better,” he said.