Former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey has claimed that Steve McClaren should be given until "at least Christmas" to turn the club's fortunes around.

The former England manager, who was only appointed at St James' Park in the summer, has seen the Magpies slip to 19th place in the Premier League and crash out of the League Cup to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Fans have criticised McClaren, but Howey told BBC Sport: "To have that knee-jerk reaction and look for a new manager is ridiculous at this point - we have to wait until at least Christmas."

The 43-year-old, however, conceded that the team was not performing, adding: "When I was playing, and even afterwards, teams didn't like coming to St James' Park because it was hostile and difficult to win there.

"The way Newcastle are playing at the moment, they are basically there for the taking which is horrifically disappointing. The fans expect better."

Howey helped Newcastle win the First Division - now the Championship - title as well as being part of a Magpies side which twice finished as runners-up in the Premier League during the 1990s.