TYNESIDE does not need much persuading to embrace a legend, but as preparations were being made to acclaim Michael Owen’s debut for Newcastle United, another figure from the club’s folklore was making a rare appearance in the region. Sightings of Kevin Keegan since his departure from Manchester City last March have been as infrequent as Sven-Göran Eriksson’s forays to the touchline, but this week was an appropriate one for cover to be broken.

Inside the Armadillo-shaped Sage music centre in Gateshead, Keegan spoke with characteristic effervescence at a sports management conference; few men appreciate Newcastle’s underlying tempo more accurately. First as a player and latterly as manager, Keegan enthused the city and played upon its rhythms, leading its club to promotions, promising and almost delivering the implausible.

Keegan also bought Alan Shearer for £15 million which, until Freddy Shepherd paid £1.5 million more to bully Owen from Real Madrid, was a Newcastle record, and a similar seismic declaration of intent. He knows the meaning of today’s visit by Fulham to St James’ Park. “You might see the worst game of football in the world, but you’ll feel like it was the best,” he said.

Newcastle supporters do not own the copyright on fervour, but their loyalty mingles with a deep longing which only a one-club town and 50 years without a meaningful domestic trophy can engender. Jermaine Jenas, a recent defector to Tottenham Hotspur, complained about his “very enclosed” existence there and there are few rivals in terms of gossip, intrigue and desperation.

“I think that Michael Owen will find this out as well — that if you think you have seen passion and that you’ve seen it all, this place we are in at the moment takes it to another level,” Keegan said, revelling in his return to “this most fantastic city.” A hardened veteran of Madrid, Anfield and England, Owen will encounter a furious form of adulation.

As a “top player”, Keegan said, Owen has “that ability to go into places and light people’s eyes up”, a quality Newcastle have yearned for. The last two campaigns have been a weary battle against controversy and spiralling mediocrity, their opening four league matches this season have not brought a single goal and demands for Freddy Shepherd’s removal as chairman.

Owen’s arrival has reawakened expectations, including those of Shepherd, who is demanding an immediate return — and “a top-six finish” — on the club’s outlay. The striker’s honeymoon will be brief.

Some distance down Owen’s list of preferences when his departure from the Bernabeu became certain, Newcastle may also light up his eyes. More than 15,000 fans witnessed his arrival 10 days ago, a figure so startling that any lingering disappointment should have been minimised. “I don’t think you can get that type of turnout and that excitement from any other team,” Owen said.

He has already disputed the notion, but Owen may be spurred to achievement by his galling life as a galáctico. “Athough in everybody’s eyes he was not a failure at Madrid, I think, deep down, knowing his personality, he’ll see himself as failing, which we can only benefit from,” Graeme Souness, his new manager, said.

“I’m excited about the whole thing,” Owen said. “Even the lads in the England squad were saying: ‘I bet you can’t wait for Saturday, what an atmosphere it should be.’ That’s certainly the way I’m feeling.”

The zeal was pure Keegan; it will be needed.

DANCING TO A NEW TOON: FIVE DEBUTS FOR NEWCASTLE

HUGHIE GALLACHER (December 12, 1925; Newcastle United 3, Everton 3): The little Scot displays some tremendous dribbling and becomes an instant hero, scoring twice and setting up his team’s third goal.

JACKIE MILBURN (January 5, 1946; Newcastle United 4, Barnsley 2): Milburn joined Newcastle three years earlier during the war, but, on his competitive debut, he scores twice in an FA Cup third round win in front of around 60,000 fans.

LEN WHITE (February 21, 1953; Newcastle United 1, Liverpool 2): The striker newly signed from Rotherham United was unable to get off the mark on his debut.

MALCOLM MACDONALD (August 14, 1971; Crystal Palace 2, Newcastle United 0): Energetic, strong and courageous, the barrel-chested striker impresses but is given little help from his team-mates.

ALAN SHEARER (August 17, 1996; Everton 2, Newcastle United 0): The £15 million signing endures a miserable debut as Duncan Ferguson, the Everton striker who later played for Newcastle, steals the show. Shearer has a headed goal disallowed because of a push.