Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has said that the club's recent run of poor form has been "tough" to deal with.

The Magpies have lost their last two games, conceding eight goals in the process, but McClaren has said that they must "keep working hard" in order to turn around their fortunes.

"We knew that there were problems," he told Sky Sports News. "We knew that we'd have to build a new culture and environment and way of working.

"We knew that it would take time and sometimes you think you've got it, like three weeks ago. There were big smiles after [the 1-0 win at] Bournemouth when we felt we had turned a corner, but it's tough.

"We've got to keep working hard. We've got to get on with it, starting on Sunday."

Newcastle, who have won just twice in the league all season, face Liverpool at St James' Park on Sunday.

Written by
Kristian Johnson