The 57-year-old heads into his latest clash with old foe Sir Alex Ferguson at St James' Park tomorrow night still looking for his first victory since returning to Tyneside.
Indeed, the Magpies have won none of their last nine league games and find themselves hovering only just above the relegation zone and knowing they will be dragged into the battle for survival if they do not halt that trend soon.
Newcastle lost 6-0 at Old Trafford in between Sam Allardyce's departure and Keegan's arrival back in the north-east, and having seen United demolish Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend and fight back to claim a Champions League draw in Lyon, know they will be in for just as stern a test this time around.However, the new manager will hope the return of Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye, Geremi and Obafemi Martins from the African Nations Cup will provide his squad with a much-needed boost.Martins is still nursing the ankle injury with which he returned from Nigeria's campaign in Ghana, but his colleagues will add depth to a squad which was left threadbare by their temporary departures.Keegan said: "If you get four international players coming back into the squad, it is bound to make a difference."They are not internationals for any other reason than they are very good players."They give us options, we can play different ways with them. They are different players to the ones that were here before, big and strong in the case of Faye, and quick and pacy in the case of Beye."Newcastle have had a fortnight to reflect upon their most recent setback, a 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa in which they capitulated after taking the lead.They have conceded 14 goals in their last five games - and that includes a 0-0 draw with Bolton - and scored just twice, a graphic illustration of their problems.However, on the plus side, those two goals for have both come from #17million striker Michael Owen, and Keegan will know greater defensive resilience and better supply for the England frontman will help to turn the season around.
No comments:
Post a Comment