It is almost a year since Steve McClaren’s reign as England head coach came to an ignominious end, a 3-2 defeat by Croatia at Wembley halting the country’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. As he looked ahead to a Uefa Cup tie against Manchester City this evening in his new role as coach of Twente, McClaren believes that he is all the better for the experience of managing the national team.

“If I’m not a stronger person and a better manager now I want shooting again,” McClaren said. “I should be with all the lessons I have learnt, and I hope I am. That’s what I’m trying to do — whatever I do I’m trying to be the best I can be.”

McClaren dismissed suggestions that the Netherlands was providing some sort of rehabilitation — “I’m not in rehab,” he said — but he does appear to be reinventing himself with the Dutch club. A 2-0 defeat by Ajax at the weekend prevented Twente from going top of the Eredivisie and a 1-0 victory over Racing Santander ensured a winning start to Uefa Cup group A last month, and Mark Hughes, the City manager, knows his players will have their work cut out.

Twente may have succumbed 6-0 on aggregate to Arsenal in their Champions League third qualifying round tie in August, but the first leg in Arnhem, which Arsène Wenger’s team won 2-0, was tougher than the scoreline suggested. “We should have won that game and we certainly shouldn’t have lost it,” McClaren said. “It gave the club and players great confidence and belief and hopefully we’ll see that against City.”

Manchester City (possible; 4-2-3-1): J Hart — P Zabaleta, M Richards, T Ben-Haim, J Garrido — V Kompany, Elano — S Wright-Phillips, S Ireland, Robinho — Jô.

Twente (possible; 4-1-4-1): S Boschker — L Wilkshire, R Wielaert, E Braafheid, Douglas — C Tiote — R Denneboom, W Brama, T Janssen, E Elia — M Amautovic.

Referee: N Ivanov (Russia).