Steve McClaren is hoping his Newcastle United side can gain some confidence from Wednesday night's Capital One Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

The Magpies, who are struggling near the foot of the Premier League table, host the Owls at St James' Park in the third round of the league cup and McClaren has highlighted the importance of a much-improved showing from a team that has failed to win in six league outings thus far.

"Tomorrow [Wednesday] is a big game for us," said McClaren.

"It is a massive game for us, no two ways about it.

"The reaction from the players - and you need to see this, and it needs to be demonstrated on the field - but three, four, five of them already have come and said, 'I don't want to rest, I want to play', and that is what we need.

"That is the kind of characters that will get us performing and winning games."