Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren is delighted with what he's seen from Rolando Aarons this preseason.

Speaking to the BBC, McClaren admitted he tried to sign Aarons on loan at Derby County.

McClaren said: “I remember watching Rolando playing for England Under-20s.

“I rang up the next day and said: “Alan you've got to let this kid come to Derby he'd be fantastic".

“He has such pace and excitement.

“It gets you up off your seat and you want players like that.

“He is a bit erratic and inconsistent but he's very young.

“We don't want to block Rolando's progress or pathway to the first team where eventually he will be.

“We are introducing him slowly."

And McClaren says that Aarons is learning his trade steadily at Newcastle.

He said: “We played him at left-back in one of the pre-season games and he was absolutely terrific.

“That will improve his defensive work.

“We don't want to block his progress because he's going to be an exciting player."