Bill Edgar's tactical analysis

Offering a considered opinion on this match would be like reviewing a play when the theatre has just burnt down; the spectacle was elsewhere. With apologies to Bolton Wanderers, the show took place in the media suite of St James’ Park, where Kevin Keegan delivered lines like a venerated actor. Other men speak, but the Newcastle United manager dreams out loud.

If points were awarded for the quality of press conferences, Newcastle would never have surrendered the title to Manchester United in 1996 and on Saturday evening Keegan’s words flowed far more smoothly than the football had. Over recent, wearing seasons, supporters have often wished their lives away, but now they yearn to close their eyes and wake up to the little ringleader’s future.

Where predecessors have attempted to quash expectations, Keegan ramps them up. Which law states that Newcastle can no longer qualify for the Champions League? Why can they not sign stellar players? Negativity is banished. “If common sense prevails”, Alan Shearer will return to a club whose billionaire owner can be “the best in the country”.

A numbing, goalless draw between two teams shaped by Sam Allardyce illustrated the gulf that Newcastle must straddle to re-establish themselves — Keegan regards it as a “bigger challenge” than the task of saving them from the old third division — but Tyneside is again a cradle for fantasy. No one articulates hope as he does.

“I can help put a smile back on people’s faces and that comes from the fact that they trust me, that I’ve been here before and they’ve seen that I care,” Keegan said. “I don’t have to kiss the badge to show I care. It’s a trust built up. They know I’ll look after their club. I did last time as a player and a manager and I will this time.”

The great persuader has convinced dispirited fans to reinvest their belief — if what followed fell flat, the reception that greeted his first appearance back in the dugout quaked with emotion — and if he works his charm on Mike Ashley, Newcastle’s benefactor, the potential for potency is there.

Ashley, who wore a replica shirt with “King Kev” emblazoned across the back, is worth £2 billion.

“We’ve got a fantastic owner here,” Keegan said. “He’s not a chairman — he doesn’t want that — but he’s given us a lot of responsibility and we’ve got to make sure we encourage him to stay in this for the real long haul. People like him don’t turn up at a football club every day of the week and twice on Sundays. He’s incredible. He’s got no ego. You’re used to dealing with egos all over the place in this game, not just with chairmen and owners, but he’s very unassuming. If we get this place going, we will have the best owner in this country. But that’s an ‘if’ until we get it going.”

In the short term, Keegan will request funds to strengthen a squad lacking nine regulars against Bolton because of suspension, injuries and the African Cup of Nations. “I want three players in this window and I know the three I’d like,” Keegan said. “But I might not get any of them.” Signing Sol Campbell from Portsmouth would be a decent start.

Of the individuals under his charge, Michael Owen was named captain, defusing any tension that might have been simmering over the striker’s autobiography. While Owen stated yesterday that he will “stand by” the claim that Keegan’s spell with England was a “dark phase” of his career, he has been swayed by his enthusiasm.

“Kevin sat next to me and said, ‘You’ve played for some big clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid and have experienced what the atmosphere can be like there — but believe me, you haven’t seen half of what this place can be like yet,’ ” Owen said. “I have to say Kevin convinced me that there are exciting times ahead for Newcastle. I definitely want to be part of it.”

But does Shearer? He, too, has history with Keegan — the man who signed him for Newcastle did not attend his testimonial match — but having spoken by phone on Friday, they will meet this week when Shearer returns from a trip to Uganda on behalf of Sport Relief.

“Alan will manage this club one day, for sure,” Keegan said. “That’s what I told Alan when I spoke to him, oh, ages ago — ‘don’t worry, go and play golf, play with your kids, do what you want, but it will come back to you one day’. It’ll be his for the taking. What I do know is that he loves the club. People sometimes don’t think that’s enough, but it’s a good base. I don’t mean this disrespectfully, it’s just that speaking to him has not been a priority until now, but I’ve got 3½years here and, yeah, if common sense prevails . . . but let’s get to that. I’m very reluctant to discuss these things in public.”

As his reign began, there were parallels with his final match managing England, with a centre half deputising in midfield — David Rozehnal taking the role made infamous by Gareth Southgate — but the mood was unrecognisable. The dross was familiar, however, with Newcastle lacking the guile, personnel or confidence to break down a suffocating team.

Dreams filled the vacuum. “You can see this place competing with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal,” Gary Megson, the Bolton manager and a former Newcastle player, said. So can Keegan. “The last few days have been unbelievable,” he said. “It’s felt a bit surreal. The whole nation must be sick of hearing my name.” Not on Gallowgate.

Newcastle United (4-4-2) S Given 6 S Carr 6 S Taylor 6 Caçapa 6 J Enrique 5 J Milner 6 D Rozehnal 5 C N’Zogbia 6 D Duff Y 6 M Owen 5 F Ameobi 5 Substitutes: K Lualua (for Duff, 80min). Not used: S Harper, D Edgar, J Troisi, A Carroll. Next: Arsenal (a).

Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1) J Jaaskelainen 6 G Steinsson 6 L Michalik 6 A O’Brien 7 R Gardner 7 D Guthrie 5 J O’Brien 5 G McCann 5 K Nolan Y 5 M Taylor Y 4 K Davies 5 Substitutes: I Campo 5 (for Nolan, 67min), T Cohen (for McCann, 75), J Samuel (for Taylor, 79) Not used: A Al Habsi, S Giannakopoulos. Next: Fulham (h).

Referee A Wiley
Attendance 52,250

Graeme Souness has had an interview with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to discuss the vacant manager’s position and has said that he wants the job. Souness, 54, has been out of the game since leaving Newcastle United in February 2006. “I have been interviewed by the SFA,” the former Liverpool and Scotland midfield player said. “The interview was conducted in a very professional manner and I want the job.” Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager, and Tommy Burns, the Celtic assistant coach, are also believed to have held talks with the SFA, while George Burley, the Southampton manager, is the other name on the four-man shortlist.