FABRICIO COLOCCINI has told Steve McClaren that he wants to finish his career at Newcastle United - and that is music to the ears of the former England boss.

The Magpies’ pre-season schedule came to an end with a fourth defeat of the summer against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday and McClaren is now focused on Sunday’s Premier League opener with Southampton at St James’ Park.

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But the chances of Coloccini starting against the Saints appear to be slim because he has not featured in any of the club’s friendlies under McClaren, with the reason given as an Achilles problem.

The situation has led to increased speculation about the captain’s future, with Alan Pardew understood to be keen on taking the Argentine to Crystal Palace.

But, despite entering the final year of his contract, McClaren insists that Coloccini has told him he wants to be part of the new set-up.

“It is purely the injury why he is out and apparently he has this every year,” said McClaren, who fielded Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor together at the back against the Bundesliga visitors to Tyneside.

“I have spoken to him several times and he has been here seven years at Newcastle. He is coming towards the end of his career and he wants to finish it here. I said ‘great, that will do me.’ Those are the kind of words I like to hear. Let’s just get him on the field of play now.

“He has a year left on his contract and Newcastle have always been his preferred choice. I know there has been a lot of speculation, but my indication is he wants to stay here and take the club forward.”

McClaren did not make any wild predictions about whether Coloccini would be fit to face Southampton, nor did he state that the South American will remain the captain. He will assess the situation this week, but will not rush him back.

The arrival of Chancel Mbemba, from Anderlecht, provides an alternative option at the back and he came off the bench for the final half an hour on Saturday when he replaced right-back Daryl Janmaat.

It was shortly after Mbemba and Aleksandar Mitrovic’s introduction when Thorgan Hazard – the brother of Chelsea playmaker Eden – drilled in a lovely winner in the 65th minute; even though it was neither of the substitutes’ fault.

Mitrovic came close to levelling when he hit the post from six yards on his first appearance at St James’ following his £12m move from Anderlecht, but McClaren’s first home match in charge ended in defeat.

“It felt terrific to be on the line, apart from when the goal went in,” said the former England boss, who claimed Newcastle are no longer in the running for QPR’s £15m-rated striker Charlie Austin. “It’s a big club, a great club and I am excited by what I see.

“I know this club inside out from living in the area and I have been here several times in the opponents dug out, so I know what a great, tremendous place it can be. It was nice, but the game gets going and you forget about everything.”

McClaren, still looking to add more players despite apparently opting against matching the valuation of Austin, was impressed with what Mitrovic showed to the fans after replacing Papiss Cisse.

He said: “You saw that he did well. He is an old-type centre forward and is only 20 years old. He still has a lot of potential to come but I just wish he had stuck the ball in the back of the net at the end.

“I have to make my mind up on the team for next weekend now and a lot will depend on how they train this week. They say training is not important, it is for us. Depending on how they train will determine who plays, who starts.”

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat (Mbemba 62), Williamson, Taylor, Haidara; Anita (De Jong 75), Colback; Sissoko (Perez 81), Wijnaldum, Obertan (Aarons 62); Cisse (Mitrovic 62). Subs (not used): Darlow (gk), Ferguson, Lascelles, Bigirimana, Kemen, Abeid, Gouffran.

Borussia Monchengladbach (4-4-2): Sommer; Jantschke (Brouwers 76), Christensen, Schulz (Nordtveit 76), Wendt (Dominguez 61); Traore (Ritter 84), Xhaka (Korb 76), Dahoud (Johnson 61), Herrmann (Drmic 61); Stindl, Raffael (Hazard 61). Subs (not used): Sippel, Hrgota.