CHEIK TIOTE has been told he can have a future at Newcastle United - he just has to prove it.

The Ivorian midfielder is back in contention for some first team football with the Magpies after a frustrating nine months since picking up an injury at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He has only figured in three games for Steve McClaren this season and his only start was in the Capital One Cup victory over Northampton.

But with a doubt surrounding the fitness of Jack Colback ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Manchester City, Tiote is in the head coach’s thinking along with a change of system.

Regardless of whether or not the defensive midfielder plays, McClaren has challenged Tiote to show him why he was such a crucial part of the club’s success in the early days of Alan Pardew’s reign.

“It's good to see him back ... 'bad egg' and all this ... as I said last week, what a load of rubbish,” said McClaren, who was at Twente when the player was sold to St James’ Park.

“There's no better competitor or trainer out there than Cheik Tiote. I know him from being a kid.

"He's itching to play. You've got to be ready. He's definitely in the squad.

"I really don't know what's happened apart from the fact that he's been injured.

"He keeps having little niggles. He's got to get consistent and be ready to play. This fortnight coming up is huge for him. We want to see Cheik fully fit and ready to play.

"He's the type of Premier League central midfield player you need. He fits the bill. It's been one of my biggest frustrations not seeing Cheik on the training field often enough.”

Tiote has trained a few days this week to force his way in to McClaren’s plans, although there is also the option of playing Yoan Gouffran or Georginio Wijnaldum in the more withdrawn role.

As well as trying to get the best out of Tiote, McClaren is focused on trying to revitalise Moussa Sissoko. The French midfielder has not enjoyed the best of years so far and has struggled to hit top gear in a black and white shirt.

But McClaren said: “I’ve had lots of chats with him and he seems committed. He’s obviously very ambitious and that’s great but, like everybody who is ambitious, I’m sorry but you have to perform every week to a certain standard and he knows that.”

Tentative summer interest from the likes of Liverpool, Paris St Germain and Arsenal, which came to nothing in the end, has left Sissoko facing criticism from certain fans frustrated by his performances.

McClaren said: “Moussa is such a threat, but it’s about finding his best position also in terms of how we want to play and the team. In terms of his performance, I’m sure he admits himself he could do better, but his work for the team, his stats and his running, all that high intensity, is more than he was doing last season. So he’s certainly doing his job and putting the effort in.”

While McClaren is focused on trying to get more out of Tiote and Sissoko, he can have no complaints about young defender Kevin Mbabu.

The Swiss 20-year-old performed solidly at left-back against Chelsea last week and will keep his place at the Etihad Stadium today, just weeks after he seemed certain to leave.

The Newcastle boss said: “Quite often, you've got to make that decision because it's the only decision you can make.

"He could play right-back, so I threw him on. I think he did well enough in that game against Sheffield Wednesday, and showed his mentality, for me to put him at left-back.

"I hope it gives the squad a lift. Not just the first team and crowd, but also the academy and Under-21s.

"He was nowhere near (the first team), and we were looking to loan him, and now he's playing in the first team against Chelsea."