Olivier Bernard believes the current Newcastle United squad lacks players who possess leadership and character.

The Magpies are struggling in 17th position on the Premier League table having produced some heartless performances this season, including last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Leicester City.

The critics have been lining up to have a crack at Steve McClaren's men and former defender Bernard has joined the chorus by asking where the strong personalities are at St James' Park.

In his column for the Chronicle, Bernard wrote: "There are not enough characters in that team to gee them up and give them a kick up the backside, nowhere near enough.

"When you look at Newcastle, they are technically very good and have some young exciting players, but there are no leaders there.

"It is not the quality they are lacking, it is the leadership and direction.

"If you look at the side that was put out on Saturday, there are very few personalities there; no longer are there Kevin Nolans, Joey Bartons and Steve Harpers in that dressing room who know what it means and will instil that into the other players in the squad.

"That team needs to be driven on, but there aren't enough characters in to do that.

"When you mix character and quality you get a very good team, but United are severely lacking in the former.

"It's concerning because you don't see anybody in that dressing room who is going to pull the players up. Steve McClaren can only do so much on the training ground and on the touchline; players need to be leaders out on the field.

"A couple of players need to lead by example, while another couple need to be shouting, directing and organising. But at the moment I am struggling to find many."