Keegan's Newcastle continue quest for survival at White Hart Lane

Published: 5:13 PM March 28, 2008 Updated: 10:09 AM February 20, 2021

NEWCASTLE arrive at the Lane on a high after last Saturday s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Fulham. Former England boss Kevin Keegan, the Magpies fourth manager in as many years, has been battling to stop the rot since his return in January. A win ag

NEWCASTLE arrive at the Lane on a high after last Saturday's 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Fulham.

Former England boss Kevin Keegan, the Magpies' fourth manager in as many years, has been battling to stop the rot since his return in January.

A win against Stoke in the cup in January hailed the return of the talismanic Keegan after Sam Allardyce's departure. Keegan managed the club from 1992 to 1997 and won promotion to the top flight at his first attempt, before transforming them into legitimate title challengers.

Such is Keegan's popularity among Newcastle fans that once news of his return spread the anticipated poorly attended Stoke match quickly became a sell-out. But Keegan was soon forced to face the realities of life in the modern-day Premier League. The next game, a goalless draw with Bolton, was followed by a brace of 3-0 drubbings by Arsenal. Further heavy losses followed - Villa (4-1), Liverpool (3-0) and Manchester United (5-1) at St James' Park last month.

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Former Spurs legend Chris Hughton has joined Newcastle as a coach and can expect a warm welcome on his Lane return.

On the field Michael Owen is undoubtedly the Magpies' big name - he scored on Saturday - in a star-studded team that includes Nicky Butt, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and Damien Duff. But they will again be without shot-stopper Shay Given, out for six weeks following surgery.