McClen is another graduate of the Newcastle youth ranks. A product of Newcastle's youth system, the local boy broke into the first team late in the 1998-99 season.

A hard-working young midfielder, he made it to the first team nine times in the first half of the 2000-2001 season but dropped out of Bobby Robson's plans until the final run-in when he added three more appearances to his record.

The young midfielder made started six league and cup games for the Magpies in 2001/02, scoring his first first team goal against Peterborough in the FA Cup. In June 2002, he signed a new contract which will keep him at the club for another three years.

McClen is now debating his future on Tyneside after seeing Sir Bobby bring in 2 more midfield players in the past 3 month, Darren Ambrose and Lee Bowyer and has admitted that his future may lie away from tyneside. McClen is now 11th choice midfielder, in a 4 man role.