The 57-year-old walked back into the soap opera he had helped to launch when for the second time in his managerial career, he agreed to take over the reins at St James' Park in January.

But as games came and went without the expected impact, the tide of euphoria on which he was carried back up to Gallowgate ebbed away as a fight for Barclays Premier League survival unfolded.

Although the Magpies have now gone on a run of three matches unbeaten starting with a draw at Birmingham and a home victory over Fulham culminated in last Sunday's stunning 4-1 victory at Tottenham.

And those victories left some observers, who had questioned both the manager and his players, having to eat at least some of their words.

Keegan has been in the game long enough to know that fresh optimism on Tyneside could dissipate just as quickly should his side fail to build upon their improved form against Reading.

However, he is confident a corner has been turned and as his players attempt to increase the gap to the relegation zone beyond the nine points to which it widened last weekend, he is happy to have answered at least some of the charges which have been fired in their direction.

"We always said we could answer any critics and any people who were having a go at us on a football field, and that's what we did," Keegan said.

"That's pleasing. It is no good me standing here getting annoyed at people who have written stuff that isn't true or is wide of the mark.

"We just kept quiet and said: 'Let us do something about it, let us write the stories, let us make the headlines'.

"We have done that in the last couple of weeks in the only way you can at a football club, and that is on the field, by playing well and getting results."

Keegan knew when he succeeded Sam Allardyce that he had stepped into a battle zone, but little did he expect it would take him so long to halt the downward spiral into which the club had descended.

However, he remains as confident as he did the day he took over that good things lie ahead.

"I am as optimistic as I have always been," Keegan said.

"I said I had a small squad, but it was quality - that is still the case - and that we had the players here to get us out of the position we had got ourselves into.

"That's why I didn't buy anybody in the transfer window. I didn't accumulate players like some clubs did, I just said: 'Hold on, if I can't get better, I won't get anybody'.

"These players have started to show me - and, more importantly, themselves - that there is a lot of ability at this football club. We have just got to get it out of ourselves."

Chairman Chris Mort revealed earlier this week that no discussions over team rebuilding would take place until safety is assured, and that is a view with which his manager heartily agrees.

He is hoping a third successive league victory - something the club has not achieved all season - will reinforce the foundations for a rousing finish, although he knows Reading, who themselves still need to increase their points total, will have their own views on that.

The Magpies are certain to be roared on once again by a vociferous home support, but Keegan believes there will be a subtle shift in emphasis this time around.

"The one thing we will have when we run out is that the atmosphere in the stadium will be theirs (the players) for what they have done for the club in the last three games," Keegan added.

"Before that, because I had come back and because of what had happened here before, we got away with some mediocre performances and still kept the atmosphere, they still kept behind us.

"It will be behind us because they have earned it, and that will be a big difference and will help them a lot more than what was a manufactured situation with my coming back."