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Newcastle's official website describing him as - A good attacking flank player capable of producing an accurate cross as well as striking powerfully at goal. After a good reserve season in 2007-08 he saw little action at that level last season however with the decision to release him at the end of his contract seemingly not a hard one to make for the Championship side.
Fraser McLaren and Martin McBride reputedly have the same agent, 20-year old striker McLaren currently plying his trade with English Scottish Division Three outfit Berwick Rangers. Fraser began life as a footballer with Livingston, where he failed to make a senior appearance, the centre forward then moving on to Gretna on a free transfer in the summer of 2006.
While at Raydale Park loan spells at Ayr (two starts, three substitute appearances, one goal) and Montrose (one start and five substitute appearances) came and went before Gretna imploded in March 2008 and McLaren moved from west to east to join Berwick. Fraser to date having scored ten goals in 40 starts and one substitute appearance for Berwick, while also being named SFL Young Player of Month for February 2009.
Finally fomer Partick Thistle youth teamer Martin McBride, 23, who was on trial at Blue Square Premier outfit Mansfield Town in January, is another victim of a Scottish club in financial difficulties. The Glasgow-born creative midfielder is currently out of contract at a skint Stair Park after also spending part of his career with Gretna, McBride only ever being an unused substitute for the now defunct outfit in the 2005-06 season.
A move to Albion Rovers followed in the summer of 2006 (eight starts, eight substitute appearances and one goal), before Cowdenbeath (25 starts, 17 substitute appearances and three goals) became the next port of call in January 2007. His final destination on contract being Stranraer (25 starts, two substitute appearances and one goal) in the summer of 2008 where he has impressed in patches for the Blues in their extremely difficult relegation season.