Marko Arnautovic: 'I have a lot of respect for Steve McClaren'

Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic has praised Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren for his help at the start of his career.

The Austrian played under McClaren in the 2008-09 campaign at FC Twente and starred for his side, notching 12 goals in 28 appearances as the club finished in second place in the Eredivisie.

Arnautovic's displays earned him a loan move to Inter Milan before making the switch to Werder Bremen, where he played for three seasons when he was then snapped up by the Potters.

However, the 26-year-old has not forgotten the role McClaren played in guiding him in the formative years of his career.

Arnautovic told the club's official website: "Steve helped me a lot and I still really appreciate it. I like him as a man and as a coach, of course," he said in the build-up to the fixture.

"He started my career really, because whilst I had already been in the first team and started a few games, I always came in and then straight out or I was on the bench.

"When he came in he gave me the opportunity to play from the start and show myself, which I needed at that time. That season we did very well. We finished second and I scored 14 goals and made 12 assists, or something like that."

Stoke face Newcastle in the Premier League at St James' Park on Saturday.