Reading manager Steve Coppell is convinced Kevin Keegan is still the right man to bring the glory days back to Newcastle.The Royals take on the Magpies at St James' Park with neither side yet completely safe from the spectre of Premier League relegation despite banking precious points in the last few weeks.
It took Keegan 10 games to register the first victory of his second spell in charge and his first stint in the 1990s remains the only time in decades that Newcastle have been regarded as realistic title challengers.
But Coppell believes his former England team-mate is capable of recreating those near-glorious days in the only way he knew how - through relentless attacking football.
He said: "I said a couple of weeks before it happened that he was the man for the job.
"They are one of those clubs that everyone would like to see do well but it has been talked about for almost 30 years. People have been saying 'this is a huge club'. Well, in a way it would be nice to see it.
"When you first manage a club, you are there you are making a reputation for yourself and he certainly did that. They were near the bottom of the old Second Division when he got there and he had to build the club up.
"This time, he is King Kev so has got the chance to enhance that reputation rather than harm it.
"His Newcastle team in the 1990s was terrific, exciting and with an emphasis on attack. I'm sure that will be exactly the same when he gets his feet under the table this time.
"You know what you are getting with Kevin. I shouldn't think his team are spending too much time on defensive training.
"And look at the European matches this week, they were fast, frenetic and skilful. It was terrific to watch and after nine months of a season a great testament to the skill within the Premier League.
"That is the only way he is going to go. He is not going to compromise. Kevin's mentality is to win games and if it is 4-3 then brilliant. The 'other' teams only focus on defending because the elite teams are so good."
While critics have already written Keegan off, Coppell has stuck to his first impression of the former Liverpool forward, garnered while on international duty in the late 1970s.
He said: "I played with him for England and had a great opportunity to see him function as a human being.
"He was a top player at that time. He had come back from Germany. where he had been European Footballer of the Year and you could see why from his attitude and the way he conducted himself, which was exceptional.
"He wasn't the most gifted player from a skill point of view but he had such enormous drive. I remember with England we had our normal training session and he would stay behind for shooting practice with Peter Shilton.
"We would go back to the hotel and finish lunch and when we were coming out of the restaurant he and Shilton would turn up. They had been shooting for what seemed like hours but he was so strong he could do it. I couldn't have."
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