Image source, Getty Images

Just before he wrapped up in the Newcastle press room, McClaren had a word to say about this weekend's opponents. 

"We will expect a vibrant, very good Stoke team who have an excellent manager and squad taking the club forward but we have shown what we are capable of doing," said McClaren. "At times our football has been excellent and we are creating chances. The fans were excellent last week and we need that again tomorrow." 

A Question of Sport Teaser

Earlier, our colleagues at Question of Sport asked: In the last three Rugby World Cup finals, only four tries have been scored. Name the four players to have scored them.

The answers... Thierry Dusautoir, Jason Robinson, Lote Tuqiri and Tony Woodcock. Did you get them? Well done!

Image source, PA

Some Newcastle team news now. Tim Krul has had his knee operation and is on the first small steps to recovery.

Fabricio Coloccini is available after his sending off against Sunderland last weekend was overturned.

Jack Colback is serving a one-match ban, although he has also been ruled out for six weeks with a knee problem. McClaren has said this "gives other people an opportunity while he's not there". 

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland and Sale scrum half Chris Cusiter says Sam Burgess does not have enough time to become a good rugby union player and thinks he should return to rugby league.

Burgess, 26, was controversially picked as a centre for England's disappointing World Cup campaign after switching codes in 2014.

"Honestly, if I were him, I'd go back to rugby league," Cusiter told BBC Radio 5 live's Friday Sports Panel.

"I don't think it's due to the criticism he's had. He hasn't set the world on fire. It's more the scale of the task ahead of him. The amount of time it would take him to get up to speed and become a world class rugby union player, I don't think he has enough time."

Image source, Reuters

So, Newcastle manager Steve McClaren is up next and he has been speaking about their loss against Sunderland last week. 

"It's been a good week, very focussed and intense. We've been reflecting on one of the strangest derbies I've been involved in. We are not feeling sorry for ourselves. If we perform like we did at Sunderland we will win 8 or 9 times out of 10." 

There's not much to add to that!

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman believes Andy Holt's takeover could be a "watershed" moment for the League Two club.

Businessman Holt has written off £1.2m of debt and pumped in an extra £600,000 after acquiring a controlling stake.

"We've always been swimming against the tide and maybe now we're just jumping into a boat," Coleman told BBC Radio Lancashire.

We're asking which landmarks you'd like to decorate with a sporting theme...

Image source, Getty Images

More from Southampton now, and Ronald Koeman has said that Jay Rodriguez is still not available as he is still not training with the rest of the players. 

"Hopefully that will happen next week. Shane Long is also progressing well but not good enough to play this weekend. There are no other injury concerns this week." 

When asked about the currently unconventional looking Premier League table, and Southampton's chances of potentially reaching a Champions League spot, Koeman dismissed it as too early to be looking at table positions. 

"At this stage, the table is not important. Chelsea will not still be struggling at the end of the season. Our experience tells us that its very difficult to break into the top four."

Some potentially big boxing news, courtesy of our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News...

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton manager, Ronald Koeman has been speaking to the media about their derby match against Bournemouth on Sunday.

"Of course its a derby, maybe not one with a big history but in my opinion its a different one than a normal game at home," said Koeman.

"What I respect of Bournemouth and the manager, is their philosophy about football. They were by far the best team in the Championship last season."

When asked about the best way to counter that philosophy Koeman suggested it was to "press at the right moments and maintain good pressing. That's one of our qualities. If its the wrong moment, Bournemouth have the potential to counter."

Head coach Warren Gatland says he aims to keep his current coaching team in place following a review of Wales' World Cup.

Defence coach Shaun Edwards is currently the only assistant coach out of contract and has been linked with England.

But Gatland aims to keep Edwards, along with Rob Howley, Robin McBryde and Neil Jenkins.

Scotland scrum-half Henry Pyrgos will miss the start of the Six Nations after having wrist surgery. Pyrgos is out for about four months while his Glasgow and Scotland team-mate Fraser Brown faces two months out following a foot operation.

We're asking which landmarks you'd like to decorate with a sporting theme... 

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's Victoria Turner: "Welsh region and unbeaten Pro 12 leaders the Scarlets confirm that coach Wayne Pivac has committed his future to the region by signing a new contract.

"Head coach Pivac has penned a new deal that will keep him at the Scarlets for the next few years. He was appointed to the role in August 2014 and has agreed to remain at Parc y Scarlets despite interest from elsewhere."

Team news and quotes from the Premier League'ssouth coast derby coming up soon...

Image source, AP

Portland Timbers will feel good about life this morning as – perhaps with some divine intervention – they made it through the MLS play-offs on Thursday night.

Trailing 2-1 with three minutes of extra time to go, the Timbers levelled against Sporting Kansas City, prompting an incredible shootout.

A total of 22 spot-kicks were taken. With the chance to win it, Sporting’s Saad Abdul-Salaam stepped up and saw his kick strike one post before rolling along the line to hit the other.

His case of torrid luck would prove costly as Portland goalkeeper Adam Kawarsey smashed home from the spot before diving low to his right to complete a double-whammy, saving the next penalty to win it.

The Timbers are of course the MLS franchise with a mascot called Timber Joey, who uses a chainsaw to cut a ring of log at games – presenting the fresh cut to goalscorers after the match.

These are getting better.... 

We're asking which landmarks you'd like to decorate with a sporting theme... 

A Question of Sport Teaser

Here's today's @QuestionofSport, external#QSTeaser, external: In the last three Rugby World Cup finals, only four tries have been scored. Name the four players to have scored them.

We'll bring you the answer a little later on.