Steve McClaren has denied claims that Newcastle United is host to a number of 'bad eggs' in the dressing room.

Journalist John Richardson indicated on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement program that the Magpies have a couple of players in their ranks who are troublemakers with poor attitudes.

Midfielder Cheick Tiote was named while striker Papiss Cisse was also mentioned but the allegations were hosed down by McClaren ahead of Wednesday night's Capital One Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

"There's been no problem with Cheick," he said. "He's not a bad egg at all.

"I know Cheick well - I obviously had him at Twente (the club McClaren managed in Holland) - and he's no trouble. He doesn't cause trouble, he just wants to play.

"We haven't seen enough of Cheick. He went away for the Africa Cup of Nations and I don't really think he's played a game since.

"That's an ongoing problem that he has, and he needs to be right to play. He hasn't been right or correct, it's as simple as that.

"He hasn't been able to build up his fitness but I know Cheick well and I couldn't be any stronger in terms of saying that he's not any trouble.

"He's no bad egg, he just wants to play football, but he's not been able to do that, so he's frustrated. He's definitely not been feigning injury.

"Papiss is Papiss, and he goes around with a smile on his face. That's the culture that he's got."