King Kev in Toon for Legends' game

12:05pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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SAINTS legend Kevin Keegan will make a rare return to the club tonight, as guest of honour for the Alan Ball Memorial Cup.

The Newcastle boss has accepted an invite to watch the England Legends take on their Scottish counterparts at St Mary's, in memory of the Southampton great who died in April last year.

Keegan, a two-time European Footballer of the Year will present the trophy to the winners. He and Ball became firm friends during the World Cup winner's second spell at the club as a player in the early 1980s.

News of Keegan's appearance at St Mary's comes after Legends' managers Graeme Souness and Peter Reid intensified their war of words ahead of the game.

"I've watched the England Legends' results over the last few years and, I can honestly say, I hope they continue," said Souness.

"I know they defeated the Rest of the World Legends last summer, but defeats to Germany Legends and Italy Legends show they can be beaten."

Reid said: "England v Scotland is not a friendly game. I don't think I'm going to even need to give a team talk, there's an enormous rivalry between the nations, the teams and the players. I think it is only right that England lift the Alan Ball Memorial Cup."

Robson will captain the England squad, which includes Chris Woods, Paul Parker, Graeme Le Saux, Des Walker, Warren Barton, Mark Wright, Ray Parlour, Stan Collymore, Paul Merson, Andy Sinton, Nigel Winterburn, Kerry Dixon, Rob Lee, Kenny Sansom and Steve Hodge.

Former Glasgow Rangers star Richard Gough captains Scotland, whose team also consists of Andy Goram, Brian Irvine, Tom Boyd, Matt Elliott, Tosh Mckinlay, Kevin Gallacher, Paul Devlin, Gordon Durie, John Wark, John Collins, Gary Mackay, Bryan Gunn, Arthur Albiston, Darren Jackson and David Speedie.

Between them, the managers and players involved tonight have collected 1,030 international caps. An application has been made to the Guiness Book of World Records for "the game which features the most senior international caps."

Tickets for the game, which kicks off at 7.45pm, are still available from the St Mary's box office, in person or on 0800 2800 050. Prices have now increased to £15 for adults and £10 for children and concessions.