McClaren Takes The Praise But Is He Right To Drop Perez?

Last updated : 14 December 2015 By Footy Mad - Editor

Should he be on from the start? Many fans believe he should ... but how can you argue with stunning victories against Liverpool and Tottenham?

Steve McClaren has revealed why he left Ayoze Perez out of his starting XI.

McClaren’s decision to drop the forward for last weekend’s game against Liverpool and Sunday's win over Spurs surprised many fans.

Perez has been one of the relegation-threatened club’s better performers this season.

But his team selection paid off, with Siem de Jong, handed a his first Premier League start of the season in the game, helping Newcastle to a 2-0 win at St James’s Park, and the striker scored the winner against Spurs.

Head coach McClaren felt United needed de Jong’s “experience” up front alongside Papiss Cisse after back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

Asked about his decision to leave out three-goal Perez, McClaren said: “Ayoze is a fantastic player.

“Sometimes form goes up and down. We’ve got good players.

“I’ve got to say Siem de Jong has been very frustrated, but very patient, and I think he deserved his opportunity.

“We said ‘we’ll just go for a bit of experience with Siem de Jong and Papiss, and they work well together.”

And McClaren admits he has had a “dilemma”.

“It’s always a dilemma,” he said. “I don’t like doing it, as you like to gain momentum, but it worked again against Tottenham.”