Keegan hopes to turn the clock back to his first reign on Tyneside, when he built a side which produced thrilling football and very nearly claimed the Premier League title.

With the purse strings now a little tighter than they once were at St James' Park, the 57-year-old is having to remain patient as he attempts to rebuild his squad this summer.

But Argentina international Jonas and former Liverpool youngster Danny Guthrie are already on board, and Keegan admits he is relishing the opportunity to unleash the former Real Mallorca winger.

He said: "Jonas is the real deal, he is not just somebody who has come and you think, 'He's a bit of a chancer'.

"He is proven and I think our supporters will like him.

"But that's for him to decide by his performances and for them to see how they appreciate it.

"However, Jonas is definitely the sort of player who can excite the fans. I think they will love him for a lot of reasons.

"But the main thing, apart from his pace, is that whoever plays up front will like him because he is a supplier of goals.

"Daniel Guiza, the guy who has just gone to Fenerbahce from Mallorca, won the Golden Boot in Spain, and that means he scored more goals than anyone else at the likes of Real Madrid.

"A key part of that was Jonas and the crosses he provided, and we have got that now."

The 25-year-old South American will not make his debut at Hartlepool tomorrow, and is more likely to figure for the first time when Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven visit St James' on August 6.

But Keegan believes the fact that he is already on Tyneside training when he could have enjoyed a further week's break is an indication of his eagerness to get started.

The manager said: "Jonas was told he could come in next week, but he has come in this week and that tells you a little bit about his character.

"He is 25 years of age and is a very fit boy, very determined and very professional, and I think the crowd are going to like him - he is top-class."

Unlike Jonas, 21-year-old Guthrie could be involved at Victoria Park, and Keegan is confident he too will make an impact.

He said: "Young Danny Guthrie is a little bit of a mix for the older fans between Paul Bracewell and Rob Lee.

"He is that type of player - good engine, a very good passer of the ball, a link-up player who can get around the field, and of course in the Premier League, you need that.

"And over time, he will probably learn to play in a defensive midfield holding position."

The Magpies' recruitment drive is continuing at the end of a week during which they missed out on Real Zaragosa star Pablo Aimar and decided not to pursue Germany international Torsten Frings.

Their concentration is currently on defence, where an approach for Blackburn's Stephen Warnock was summarily rebuffed, and their hopes of landing Liverpool's Emiliano Insua on loan have so far come to nothing.

Keegan said: "We have got these two in and I am really pleased with them.

"Obviously, the whole world knows that the squad is too small - every Newcastle fan and the people at the club know that.

"But getting the right players in was always going to be tough because there is a lot of competition for good players."

ends