DURING his first spell as Newcastle United manager, I once met Kevin Keegan when he came out to South Africa.

We were fortunate enough to have him on a show I presented called On the Ball - and he was terrific.

I remember trying to describe the passion at Newcastle United and afterwards he gave me a big pat on the pack and said he could not have put it any better.

He's a great man and the perfect manager to bring back the panache and the swagger to the Newcastle team.

The football Newcastle played under Keegan in the 1990s was tremendous.

Anyone who loves football would hope he's given the time he needs to get Newcastle playing like that again.

It seemed appropriate that the academy Keegan has been running in Glasgow is called Soccer Circus because that is exactly what Newcastle United has become.

But I can see the Toon Army going places in the next couple of years and Alan Shearer would be another very good appointment.

No pair are more popular in Geordieland than Keegan and Shearer.