Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has played down Florian Thauvin's unflattering start to the season, insisting that his summer recruit needs time to adapt.
The Frenchman has struggled to scale the heights expected of him since joining the Magpies from Marseille for £13m, and courted criticism for his performance in Wednesday's 1-0 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.
McClaren removed the 22-year-old midfielder at half time in midweek, but the Newcastle boss believes that, as with all of his pre-season signings, patience is essential as winless United look to turn things around in Saturday's visit of Chelsea.
"He's one of those players who wants to be involved in the game all the time and so ideal for what we want to do," he is quoted as saying by The Chronicle.
"It's going to take him time to adapt and that's the case with all players who have come in. I think Chancel [Mbemba] has come in and adapted very quickly.
"Mitrovic adapted to the culture [but then there is] the red card – so as we say change, coming in, different environment for them. It's not easy. Change is not smooth and you've got to adapt. That's what they have to do – adapt."
The North-East outfit, who sit 19th in the Premier League table, have picked up just two points from a possible 18 thus far.
Shane Callaghan
