It took two months for Keegan to record the first win of his second spell in charge, then victory over Fulham was followed by the 4-1 drubbing of Tottenham yesterday.

Keegan had noted a nervousness in his defence and responded by fielding three strikers to take the pressure off needing a clean sheet - the type of attacking philosophy his reputation has been built on.

Owner Mike Ashley was jubilant, along with other Newcastle fans at White Hart Lane, with Keegan's work coming together emphatically and echoing his first spell in charge when they challenged for the title.

"We had a good start to the season up to October. Since then, we've had to fight for everything we've got," said chairman Chris Mort in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

"The results haven't really come. The football went a bit awry, but Kevin's got them playing again, and we saw that."

It has not been all-out attack, though, as Keegan has used Michael Owen as a support striker in the past three games. At times Owen, England's top goalscorer among current players, has been as deep as his midfield team-mates.

Owen is relishing his role as a playmaker, although his poaching instincts has resulted in a goal in each game he has featured 'in the hole' between Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins.

"Currently we're playing a certain way which the gaffer has decided and I've enjoyed it," he said.

"Everyone knows I'm a striker who scores goals, but I've enjoyed coming off and I'm still getting into the box and scoring those goals - it's three in three with the new system.

"It's good to have a link-up and, especially away from home when you're under the cosh, it's nice for the lads at the back and in midfield to have an outlet and that's my role at the moment."

Keegan stated afterwards that Newcastle can start looking up the table now, raising the possibility of a top-half finish in the Barclays Premier League.

He also suggested there may not be the need for radical changes to the squad in the summer.

Owen added on Newcastle World TV: "I've said all along that one day we would hopefully look back and say 'what was all the fuss about?'.

"And, even though we're not definitely safe, it certainly gives us some breathing space."

Adding to the positive news for Keegan is Emre stepping up his recovery after a month out with a calf injury. The Turkey midfielder has been scheduled to face Manchester United's reserves.

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Emre's return would add competition to a midfield that Alan Smith and Damien Duff cannot break into.

Nicky Butt and Joey Barton are the first-choice pair to protect the defence, and Geremi is the third out-and-out midfielder.

Keegan has a reputation of being tactically naive, but Butt defended his manager.

The former England international said: "He knows the type of football he wants to play, he's been successful with that in the past.

"If myself and the back four set our platform out, the other lads can go and do what they want. And if they can do what they did against Spurs it's great.

"People say he's not a great tactician because the way he plays is attack, attack, attack - but at the end of the day if we can score more goals than the other team then we're okay."

Butt is now looking forward to securing safety and looking ahead to next season.

He added: "To be honest the season can't end quick enough for all the boys, it has been that bad.

"As soon as we get this season out of the way, finish on a high if we can, we'll look forward to next season with maybe more signings and more quality."