Derby's Steve McClaren '100% committed' despite Newcastle link

McClaren took Derby to the Championship play-off final in 2014, where they lost 1-0 to QPR

Head coach Steve McClaren has insisted he is "100% committed" to Derby County but refused to confirm if he was offered the chance to manage struggling Premier League side Newcastle United.

McClaren's Rams missed out on a Championship play-off place after losing 3-0 to Reading on Saturday.

On the same day the ex-England boss was approached by the Magpies, who are only two points above the relegation zone.

But McClaren said: "I'm 100% committed to finishing the job here."

Derby led the Championship as recently as 24 February but won just twice in their final 13 games of the season to finish two places, and one point, adrift of the top six.

Newcastle's defeat by Leicester City was their eighth successive loss but, after missing out on McClaren, the Magpies decided to stick with boss John Carver until the end of the season.

McClaren, 54, added: "I hear the speculation, I see it, but I'm 100% committed to Derby County at this point. I've been saying it for months, that my total focus, my total commitment, is on Derby County.

"For three-quarters of the season we were one of the best teams in the league. I really felt when we went top of the league we could get in to the Premier League.

"In the last two months injuries have come thick and fast to important, experienced players and we lost momentum. It derailed us and we failed to get back on track.

"There is still a lot more to come from this team."

McClaren's Derby side conceded 23 goals in their final 13 Championship matches, in which their only wins came against relegated sides Wigan Athletic and Blackpool