Under-fire Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has admitted that his team's collective confidence is "very fragile" as their Premier League woes continue.
The Magpies were thumped 5-1 at Crystal Palace last week in a result that ensured that they began December 19th in the table and two points adrift of safety.
It gets no easier for Newcastle, who host in-form Liverpool on Sunday, but McClaren is confident that his troops will emerge a stronger unit as a result of this slump.
"We believe in these players but confidence is very fragile," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
"People question a lack of character and fight and it appears that way, but these are young players, this is what they are going through.
"This experience they have to go through to come through it - that bit of adversity in a big club in a tough situation and be stronger when they come out of it."
United have managed just two victories all season.
