Keegan raring to go

Kevin Keegan has walked back into St James' Park determined to take care of unfinished business.

The 56-year-old sparked mass celebrations on Tyneside last night when he accepted owner Mike Ashley's invitation to have another go at reviving the fortunes of the club he took to the brink of the Premiership title almost 12 years ago.

Having met the players he inherited from Sam Allardyce in the dressing room after the 4-1 FA Cup third-round replay victory over Stoke City, Keegan headed for the training ground - one that did not exist during his last spell on Tyneside - this morning to begin work in earnest.

As well as preparing for Friday’s official unveiling and, more importantly, Saturday evening's Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton Wanderers, the adopted Geordie faces the task of appointing his backroom team and re-shaping a squad low on numbers and, in some departments, quality, with just two weeks of the transfer window left to run.

However, his relish at the task ahead of him was clear as he slipped back into the hot-seat.

Keegan said: ‘I wouldn't say it was a big decision. I love this football club and I don't think anyone would ever doubt that.

‘You know life has moved on and I was doing other things, but I had to make a decision and in the end, it was a very easy one.’

‘I have met the owner, Mike Ashley, and I like him very much. I also met the chairman, Chris Mort, and just talking to them, I felt they both knew what they are doing.

‘I spent an hour with Mike and that convinced me it is right to come back to help him in what he is doing with Newcastle United and what he wants from the football club.’

Keegan added: ‘There is some unfinished business here. Everybody has got their opinions on the game of football and what people should do and shouldn't do,

‘But I think this is right - and I certainly think they are strong group of players, which is something which I didn't know when I came last time.

‘When I came last time, we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium.

‘That's not the problem here, as you well know - it will be trying to get a stadium big enough if we could put the football on and get any success here.’

If Keegan's arrival sent Tyneside into raptures, the prospect of home-grown legend Alan Shearer joining him has caused almost as much excitement.

The Keegan-Shearer 'dream ticket' was at the top of the fans' wish-list in the immediate aftermath of Allardyce's departure last Wednesday evening, although it was swiftly dismissed as fanciful.

Whether or not Keegan wants the 37-year-old within his set-up, whether or not Shearer wants to be involved - he has indicated he will happily speak to the new manager about his plans - and whether or not the two men could work together remains to be seen.

However, Shearer's relationship with record signing Michael Owen might prove useful given the younger man's views on Keegan during their time together with England

Allardyce left behind a huge staff, headed by caretaker boss Nigel Pearson, but also including Steve Round, Terry McDermott and a host of specialists.