The Toon boss has tried to put on a brave face after a disastrous festive period which has seen his side held at home by rock-bottom Aston Villa before losing twice in the space of three days to Everton and West Brom.
They face league leaders Arsenal on Saturday in danger of becoming entrenched in the relegation zone along with Villa and neighbours Sunderland.
McClaren's instinctive reaction to Newcastle's current plight is to insist everything is under control and the second half of the season will be far better than the first.
“We are just not getting the results from that and it will have to turn”
But within minutes of announcing that alarm bells aren't ringing, he quickly changed tack.
Asked if he was worried by Newcastle's third-from-bottom position, he said: "No, there are 19 games to go.
"It would worry me if they weren't giving attitude, effort and weren't being bright around the place, weren't playing as committed as they are, weren't creating chances as we are, playing the football we are.
"We are just not getting the results from that and it will have to turn."
Shortly afterwards when pressed on his apparent calm, McClaren compared himself to a duck, floating serenely while having to work furiously under water.
"Believe me, under the surface, I am paddling like mad," he said.
"But we have a little bit more information than everyone else. We know what we have got and what we are trying to do.
"We feel we are getting there after a tough start."
McClaren admits he's an unashamed optimist but not a blind one and would always try to defend his players.
He said: "I think I've been quite honest in terms of whether performances have been good or bad.
"But I will never fault these players as long as they give 100 per cent effort and I think they have done that."