But how long will Mike Ashley stick with a coach who is obviously struggling to get his methods through to his players?
McClaren questioned his players' application following their 6-1 hammering at Manchester City on Saturday.
The Magpies led 1-0 but were then swamped by a rampant City side, particularly in a 13-minute second-half spell in which Manuel Pellegrini's men scored five times.
Sergio Aguero grabbed four of them - and five in total - and McClaren was not impressed by his side's capitulation.
Asked if he was concerned by his players' desire during that period, the former England manager said: "It's bound to be an issue. We conceded five goals in 13 minutes so we have an issue there.
"Once we conceded the third goal we need to handle it better.
"We let ourselves down in that 13-minute spell but give credit to City.
"We have shown what we are capable of and what our weaknesses are. We have to toughen up and get ready for the next spell of games.
"I think we carried on the level of performance from last week [a 2-2 draw with Chelsea].
"We came here to win, were bold in our 4-4-2 and in that first half we really shook Manchester City. We scored the first goal, we scored a second that was disallowed which was onside and we had other opportunities.
"The goal just before half-time was the goal that gave them a lift and in the second half we got done by Aguero. His finishing was world class.
"We knew it would be a tough job. We know what needs to be done and it can't be turned around in a short period of time. It needs patience.
"We've seen over the last two weeks the work that has been done. In the first half we looked a very good Premier League team. In the second half we didn’t look a very good team. We need to produce for 90 minutes."
THE TOON'S GREATEST 100 PLAYERS ... EVER!
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Toons-Greatest-Players-EVER/dp/132629685X
Available from M&M News, in Newcastle.
This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website. The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for YOU (the reader) to decide who goes where. The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" ... no two people have exactly the same opinion. There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not. Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of NUFC's Greatest is up to you. Because YOU have the final word.
Otherwise ... if you want a signed copy (for a birthday, etc) for £9.95 and no postage ... you can meet me before a match and I will bring a copy along.
Get in touch: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Fri 10th July (8pm BST)
Gateshead FC 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (Cisse pen)
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
Tue 14th July (8pm CT)
Club Atlas (MEX) 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Sissoko)
Krul (Darlow 46); Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72); Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Obertan 72), de Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72); Cisse (Armstrong 72).
Sat 18th July (8pm UTC)
Sacramento Republic FC (USA) 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (og)
Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Tue 21st July (7.30pm UTC)
Portland Timbers (USA) 4 Newcastle Utd 3 (Wijnaldum, Aarons 2)
Darlow (Woodman 46), Bigirimana, Satka, Ferguson, Aarons; Abeid (Anita 65), Wijnaldum (Janmaat 46), Gouffran (De Jong 76), Sissoko (Obertan 46), Ayoze, Cisse (Armstrong 46).
Sun 26th July (1pm BST)
Sheffield United 2 Newcastle Utd 2 (Wijnaldum, de Jong)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor (Lascelles 69), Haïdara, Anita (Obertan 59), Colback, Sissoko (Abeid 80), Wijnaldum (De Jong 73), Perez (Aarons 45), Cissé (Armstrong 80)
Wed 29th July (7.45pm BST)
York City 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Perez)
Darlow (Elliot HT); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70)
Sat 1st August (3pm BST)
Newcastle Utd 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1
Krul, Janmaat (Mbemba 62), Williamson, Taylor, Haïdara, Anita (De Jong 75), Colback, Sissoko (Perez 81), Obertan (Aarons 62), Wijnaldum, Cissé (Mitrovic 62).
Sunday August 9
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Cisse, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Colback, Anita (Tiote, 67); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (De Jong, 81), Obertan; Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Darlow, Taylor, Aarons, Perez.
Saturday August 15
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko (45' Taylor), Wijnaldum, Obertan (82' Mitrovic), Cisse (54' Aarons). Subs: Williamson, Perez, Tiote, Darlow
Saturday August 22
MANCHESTER UTD 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Mbemba, Taylor, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Perez (78' Tiote), Wijnaldum, Obertan (69' Thauvin), Mitrovic (88' Cisse).
Subs: Williamson, de Jong, Aarons, Darlow
Tuesday August 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 4 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Thauvin, Janmaat, de Jong, Williamson
Darlow, Janmaat, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara (78' Toney), Tiote, Gouffran, Aarons, de Jong, Thauvin (65' Mitrovic), Perez (72' Colback).
Subs: Dummett, Wijnaldum, Mbemba, Elliot.
Saturday August 29
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (72' Perez), Sissoko (78' Cisse), Wijnaldum, Thauvin (87' de Jong), Mitrovic
Subs: Obertan, Tiote, Darlow, Taylor
Monday September 14
WEST HAM UTD 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (60' de Jong), Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum (79' Aarons), Thauvin (60' Perez), Cisse Subs: Gouffran, Obertan, Lascelles, Darlow
Saturday September 19
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 WATFORD 2
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara (80' Aarons), Wijnaldum, Colback, Thauvin (88' Obertan), Sissoko, Perez, Cisse (45' de Jong)
Subs: Williamson, Anita, Lascelles, Elliot
Wednesday September 23
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 SHEFF WED 1 (League Cup)
Krul, Janmaat (45' Mbabu), Lascelles, Williamson, Mbemba, Anita, Wijnaldum, Thauvin (45' Perez), Sissoko, Obertan (71' Toney), de Jong
Subs: Coloccini, Gouffran, Elliot, Barlaser
Saturday September 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 2 (Perez, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu, Sissoko (90+2' de Jong), Colback (54' Obertan), Anita, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic (85' Toney)
Subs: Williamson, Lascelles, Thauvin, Elliot
Saturday October 3
MANCHESTER CITY 6 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Mitrovic)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu (53' Lascelles), Sissoko (66' Tiote), Anita, Gouffran (66' Thauvin), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez
Subs: Williamson, Cisse, de Jong, Elliot
Sunday October 18
16:00 Newcastle United v Norwich City
Sunday October 25
12:00 Sunderland v Newcastle United
Saturday October 31
15:00 Newcastle United v Stoke City
Saturday November 7
12:45 Bournemouth v Newcastle United
Saturday November 21
15:00 Newcastle United v Leicester City
Saturday November 28
15:00 Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Saturday December 5
15:00 Newcastle United v Liverpool
Saturday December 12
15:00 Tottenham v Newcastle United
Saturday December 19
15:00 Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Saturday December 26
15:00 Newcastle United v Everton
Monday December 28
15:00 W Brom v Newcastle United