Keegan plans move for Dunne

FA Premiership:Kevin Keegan's return to Newcastle United has given rise to the prospect that the team will again play the sort of football that made them so popular during his first period in charge more than a decade ago.

Within hours of the 56-year-old arriving at the club's training ground yesterday for the start of his second stint as manager, there were reports that not all of his transfer targets would be gifted attackers with an utter disregard for the defensive side of the game.

Keegan is said to be considering an attempt to recruit Manchester City skipper and Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne who has been embroiled in difficult contract negotiations of late at Eastlands.

The 28-year-old, who earns an estimated €42,000 per week and has 18 months left on his current deal with the club, is said to be seeking a substantial raise after what have been the best couple of season of his career and at a time when fellow defender Micah Richards is reported to be seeking wages that would far outstrip his.

Keegan sparked mass celebrations on Tyneside on Wednesday night when he accepted owner Mike Ashley's invitation to have another go at reviving the fortunes of the club he took to the brink of the English Premiership title almost 12 years ago.

Having met the players he inherited from Sam Allardyce in the dressingroom after the 4-1 FA Cup third-round replay victory over Stoke, Keegan headed for the training ground - one that did not exist during his last spell on Tyneside - yesterday morning to begin work in earnest.

As well as preparing for today's official unveiling and, more importantly, tomorrow evening's English Premier League clash with Bolton, the adopted Geordie faces the task of appointing his backroom team and re-shaping a squad low on numbers and, in some departments, quality, with just two weeks of the transfer window left to run.

However, his relish at the task ahead of him was clear as he slipped back into the hot-seat. Keegan said: "I wouldn't say it was a big decision. I love this football club and I don't think anyone would ever doubt that.

"You know life has moved on and I was doing other things, but I had to make a decision and in the end, it was a very easy one.

"I have met the owner, Mike Ashley, and I like him very much. I also met the chairman, Chris Mort, and just talking to them, I felt they both knew what they are doing."

If Keegan's arrival sent Tyneside into raptures, the prospect of home-grown legend Alan Shearer joining him has caused almost as much excitement.

The Keegan-Shearer 'dream ticket' was at the top of the fans' wish-list in the immediate aftermath of Allardyce's departure.

Whether or not Keegan wants the 37-year-old, whether or not Shearer wants to be involved - he has indicated he will happily speak to the new manager about his plans - and whether or not the two men could work together remains to be seen.