But credit must also go to Watford’s two-goal hero Odion Ighalo, who took his tally for the calendar year to 20 – that is one less than Newcastle have managed in the Premier League during the same period.
McClaren, meanwhile, can only look on with envy at a player of Ighalo’s predatory instinct.
Instead, he was forced to start Papiss Cisse, the striker who showed a lack of respect for his boss by failing to show for an arranged one-on-one meeting during the recent international break and then gave a disinterested performance during Monday’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham.
How has McClaren been left so short that Cisse is his only option? The Senegal forward lasted 45 forgettable minutes before being hooked at half-time.
By that point Newcastle were trailing 2-0. If anything, the scoreline flattered the woeful hosts. For Watford were simply quicker, stronger, fitter and better organised.
Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley sent an email to supporters earlier this month in which he trumpeted the £52million invested during the summer.
But the transfer committee of Charnley, as well as chief scout Graham Carr and, of course, McClaren, have left this team desperately short of goals.