Steve McClaren: 'Relegation battle still having an impact'

Newcastle United head coach Steve McClaren has suggested that his players are struggling to recover from the battle which kept them in the Premier League.

After eight successive league defeats under John Carver, the Magpies needed a victory over West Ham United on the final day of the campaign to stay in the top flight.

McClaren's men have failed to win any of their six league games so far this season and he believes that the squad are still dealing with their previous disappointments.

"I think the big thing was that we came in and we were trying to turn around what is a club that had to win on the last day of the season to stay up," he told reporters.

"So there's bound to be a carry over and baggage. You are turning around the belief after a relegation fight. I think that's what we have been trying to turn round."

Newcastle meet Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday.