In his autobiography Owen says Keegan's time as England manager was a "dark phase" in his career when he questioned his own abilities as a player.

After being officially unveiled at St James' Park for the second time as manager today Keegan said he wanted both Owen and Alan Shearer to be part of his plans but had been taken aback by the remarks in the book.

Keegan said: "I was pretty shocked at what he wrote. And you have to ask yourself 'Hold on, why did he think that'?

"I love Michael Owen both as a person and more importantly in this situation as a player and what I want to do now is to build up a better relationship than obviously he felt we had last time.

"I never felt like that and it was a shock for me but things get written and things get said and they won't change in any way at all how I feel about Michael.

"I am delighted that he is here at Newcastle and one of the reasons it is so exciting is that Michael Owen is at this football club.

"He is entitled to his opinion and I am looking forward to working with him."

Keegan, 56, also promised to provide the entertainment which characterised his previous reign - and which has been sadly lacking during those of some of his successors during the 11 years since he left Tyneside.

Speculation Shearer, himself a candidate for the main job, could join Keegan's staff has been rife for days, and while the former England boss insisted he had not spoken to the man he signed for £15million since his appointment, he confirmed he would be doing so.

He said: "I want to bring the very best to Newcastle United and if there is a role that Alan wants and that is right - and that is the key - I would love to have him back here, yes.

"I definitely will talk to him, there is no doubt about that."

Keegan took up the reins once again without pomp and circumstance, at his own request, as he concentrated on the business of preparing his team for a vital Barclays Premier League game against Bolton tomorrow evening.

He will be welcomed as a returning hero when he heads for the dug-out and he will do so determined to rekindle the breathless brand of football his side served up more than a decade ago.

Asked what was required of him by the fans, Keegan said: "They would like to win something, but when they have worked all week, the match for them is a bit like the people down south going to the theatre.

"They are going to be entertained. They have worked hard all week and they want to come to this ground and they want to see something that's worth seeing, they want to enjoy it.

"Providing it's a really good show, sometimes if it doesn't work out the way they hoped it would and dreamt it would before they went, while they are disappointed - and rightly so, as we would be - they go home thinking, 'That was good'.

"That is our market here, that's the way they think. I know that.

"What they don't want is us to go out and play drably and win 1-0 and maybe finish halfway up the table.

"They want us to have a go, and that's why I am here.

"We have done it once, we can do it again, and I believe we can do it with these players we have got and with the backing we have got.

"With these fans, we can do it again."

The sceptics suggest football has changed so radically in the last 11 years that even Keegan will not be able to serve up the same kind of fare a second time around.

He does not necessarily agree with that assessment, but admits he is a changed man for the experiences of the past decade or more.

Keegan said: "I have certainly aged because I am 11 years older. As a person, I would like to think 11 years on, I am wiser, I have got more experience.

"Eleven years on, I would like to think I am a lot more experienced."

Meanwhile, Newcastle have completed the signing of Hungary Under-21 defender Tamas Kadar.

The 17-year-old has penned a four-and-a-half year deal after he spent a few weeks on trial from Hungarian club Zalaegerszegi TE.