Ian Cathro has said that he is "incredibly excited" to be joining Newcastle United as assistant to head coach Steve McClaren.

The 28-year-old Scot has been heavily tipped for the role after leaving the same position at La Liga side Valencia two weeks ago.

Cathro believes that working alongside McClaren will help to prepare him for his own stint in management in the future.

"This is something that can only prepare me even better for when the time comes," Cathro told the Scottish Sun.

"I'm incredibly excited by it and I just want to help out in any way I can. I wanted the challenge of working in a different league and English football is very different from Spanish football.

"I'm also looking forward to working at a club which genuinely wants to push itself and grow; and to get back to a real level of competition. Steve has worked abroad himself. He is an incredibly experienced coach and manager, and an impressive man generally. I know I will learn a lot from him."

Cathro has also worked as an assistant at Portuguese side Rio Ave.