Newcastle vs Manchester United - Saivet unlikely to make Newcastle move in time

Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2016 by PA

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren is on the verge of completing his first January signing after Bordeaux midfielder Henri Saivet flew to Tyneside.

The 25-year-old Senegal international was undergoing a medical and discussing personal terms on Monday afternoon with a view to completing a switch which it is understood will cost the Magpies between B£4million and B£5million.

Saivet is unlikely to complete his move in time to be involved in Tuesday night's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United at St James' Park.

McClaren was coy when asked about Saivet at his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon, saying: "We are at a sensitive position where we are going through a medical, we are negotiating a contract, and I have seen these fall through and everybody has got egg on their face discussing this, that and the other and people are left upset."

However, the 54-year-old was less forthcoming when asked about Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey amid reports that the club has tabled a B£10million bid.

Newcastle have been maintaining a watching brief over the player for several years and are understood to have registered their interest.

But asked about Shelvey, McClaren said: "That I can't discuss. It's one of 100 names, I think, that have already been mentioned and linked with Newcastle."

McClaren has a series of injury doubts as he looks to end a run of four successive 1-0 defeats in all competitions.

Skipper Fabricio Coloccini suffered a hamstring problem in Saturday's FA Cup third round exit at Watford, a fixture which also saw fellow defender Kevin Mbabu (thigh) and midfielder Florian Thauvin (ankle) limp away.

However, midfielder Jack Colback, who missed the trip to Vicarage Road with a hamstring problem, has returned to training and will hope to be involved.

Winger Rolando Aarons (foot) and striker Emmanuel Riviere (knee) are back in contention and defender Steven Taylor (also hamstring) and striker Papiss Cisse (groin) are also close to returns.

Louis van Gaal thinks Manchester United fans should be happy with their team's recent form and suggested that traffic around Old Trafford - rather than apathy - was one of the reasons why many so many supporters left before the end of the dull 1-0 win over Sheffield United.

Thousands of fans streamed out of the stadium on Saturday evening before the end of the FA Cup third round tie, which the hosts won thanks to a penalty three minutes into stoppage time from Wayne Rooney.

United did not register a shot on target against the League One side until the 69th minute and were booed off at the break.

But Van Gaal insists supporters should be happy with the way their team have returned to winning ways in recent weeks following a run of eight matches without victory.

"You have to be happy as a Manchester United fan that we are in next round and we have won the last two games," the United manager said during an edgy press conference at Carrington on Monday.

When asked why many had left the stadium early, Van Gaal said: "They are not thinking that we would score, I think, and maybe also because of the traffic."

Paul Scholes tore into Van Gaal after the final whistle, claiming the players and the manager looked "bored".

Van Gaal refused to respond to the outspoken former United midfielder on the eve of his team's trip to Newcastle.

The Dutchman snapped: "What do I have to do now? React to Paul Scholes? Do you want that?"

Scholes' jibes may not have hurt Van Gaal, but the United boss seems to have been affected by the ironic cheers that came when Memphis Depay fired a low shot wide just after he came on in the 60th minute and when Sheffield United goalkeeper George Long made his first save of the match from Matteo Darmian.

"Yeah, I can understand that," Van Gaal said.

"Because it was that we were not shooting too much or not able to shoot at the goal so much.

"That they are ironic, I can imagine."

Van Gaal's hopes of registering a third win in succession have been hit by an injury to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who will miss out because of a knee problem he suffered in the dying stages of Saturday's match.

Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia are unavailable because of long-term injuries while Phil Jones is likely to miss out because of an ankle problem he sustained in the 2-1 win over Swansea on January 2.

Ashley Young, Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick were rested for Saturday's game because they had played too many matches and were "in the red zone", according to Van Gaal, but all three could return for the trip to St James' Park.