Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has told the board they must buy Premier League experience in January if they're to stay up.

The Toon chief fears the current squad lacks the characters to avoid another relegation scrap.

The Daily Star says among McClaren's recommendations to owner Mike Ashley and chief executive Lee Charnley are a change in Newcastle's policy of only buying players who are 24 or younger.

His pleas fell on deaf ears in the summer but McClaren has become increasingly dismayed at the lack of leadership in the dressing room.

And he's told his bosses an influx of experienced players, preferably with Premier League pedigrees, is required to prevent a slump turning into yet another full-blown Toon crisis.