The 57-year-old will take his side into Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn still waiting for a first victory since his return to the helm and knowing that anything less would increase anxiety on Tyneside.

A run of 10 league games without a win has yielded just three points - indeed, the Magpies have won only two of their last 18 top-flight fixtures to slip to within six points of the drop zone.

Relegation is unthinkable for a club which started an ill-fated campaign with sights set on European qualification, but unless Keegan can inspire a significant improvement over the final 11 games, it could become painful reality.

He is confident four victories - or three and as many draws - will be enough to banish those fears before he can then turn his attention to a major overhaul of the squad he inherited from Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce spent around £26million as he made nine signings last summer, although around £16million of that was offset by sales.

Keegan insists he has not spoken to owner Mike Ashley about money since his initial talks over the job in January, but is confident the funds will be there to make a significant impact.

He said: "We haven't really discussed it, but I was promised money when I came, so it will be there. I don't think I need worry about that.

"But the first thing I need to do is get to 40 points and make sure we are in the Premier League. That is still there to be done.

"Then I have got to go and get the three, four or five players that are hopefully going to turn this place around.

"I have got a small squad. There are so few options within this squad."

Keegan did indeed inherit a small squad from Allardyce, with the lack of depth being cruelly exposed by the absence of four men - Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye, Geremi and Obafemi Martins - at the African Nations Cup.

They are now back in harness, but defensive frailty and a lack of invention and pace in midfield have proved costly during the manager's first few weeks in charge.

Keegan allowed Czech defender David Rozehnal to go out on loan to Lazio last month, but failed in his efforts to land either Jonathan Woodgate or Giles Barnes, and he will hope for greater success in the summer, when he will also hope Steven Taylor's contract wrangle is resolved.

Keegan enjoyed success with his transfer dealings during his last spell in charge, starting small before going for men such as Peter Beardsley, Philippe Albert, Les Ferdinand, David Ginola and Alan Shearer.

He said: "Rome wasn't built in a day. We didn't bring them in from day one then.

"We fetched Brian Kilcline in first, and they don't talk too much about it, though they liked him.

"Scott Sellars came, then Darren Peacock, and they weren't too excited about those either. Shearer came in at the end."

Meanwhile, Keegan is hoping for better news on the injury front ahead of the must-win clash with Blackburn.

Striker Mark Viduka has shaken off calf and hamstring problems, while Emre and Martins could also be available after missing out last weekend with calf and ankle injuries respectively.