Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren insists the club is scouring the Northeast lower leagues for local talent.

England hopeful Jamie Vardy played non-league football with Fleetwood Town and Stocksbridge Park Steels before being snapped up by Leicester.

McClaren told the Evening Chronicle: “Locally, very much so.

"Some players may flourish in one place but not in another. That's how it is. Vardy has excelled at Leicester and he's the main man now."

McClaren also revealed that he looked at Sheffield United's non-league capture Che Adams during his time at Derby County.

He said: “We spotted one at Ilkeston in Che Adams. He ended up at Sheff United. We looked at him when he was at Ilkeston.

“I asked the coaches and they said: 'He's not as a good as what we've got', he ends up at Sheff United.

“And he's doing alright. You never know, you never know."