Keegan on a roll with treble hit: Showtime as all three strikers find goal

All three of the former England manager's big-name strikers punctured Reading's feeble rearguard. This was Keegan's unique brand of chest-beating football at its brilliant best and, hot on the heels of a four-goal blast at Tottenham, strikes from Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka brought the black and white believers to their feet.

A third successive win for the first time this season removed any lingering fears that relegation could become a reality and the Geordie messiah can finally begin planning for next season's assault on the Premier League.

"We're safe," said Keegan. "When you look at our front three, you just know that if we can get it together for five or 10 minutes then we'll score goals. They've got one each today and it was great to see.

"They're three totally different players but as a combination it really works and it causes other teams real problems.

"Mark Viduka is very inventive and holds the play up well for the other two. With all the movement we've got up front, we need someone to stand still and Mark's the man! Now I'm looking forward to my holidays. It would be nice to finish the season by continuing to enjoy our football.

"We need to send people away on their holidays thinking: "Wow next season could be very good for Newcastle". We need to give them some optimism and that's all we can do this year."

Martins set the ball rolling in the 18th minute by cutting inside Leroy Rosenior and Andre Bikey before drilling a low shot beyond Marcus Hahneman.

Owen netted his sixth goal in nine games under Keegan in the 43rd minute after missing a glorious chance to finish the move of the game moments earlier. Habib Beye floated an inviting pass and Owen was too clever for the labouring Ivar Ingimarsson and lobbed the advancing Hahnemann with ease.

And Viduka slotted home the strike he deserved 13 minutes after the restart following a onetwo with Beye to confirm victory. Relegation remains a possibility for Reading but manager Steve Coppell accepts his team will not come up against so potent a strikeforce every week.

"Credit to the finishers they have," he said. "In Owen, Martins and Viduka they have some threesome and to try to keep them quiet over 90 minutes is a handful.

"I thought there might be an opportunity for us against Newcastle. I'm fully aware that they're a power going forward but they've been inconsistent all season defensively.

"That display was another building brick for them and Kevin must be very pleased." But he added: "That performance worries me but we are what we are and what can I do? If we look after our patch then we don't have to be concerned about anyone else. The other results went for us but that's small consolation after a 3-0 defeat."

Last month Keegan went back to the future with the 4-3-3 formation which kick-started a campaign in freefall.

Martins, Viduka and Owen have put opposing defenders on the back foot and the sudden success of United's remodelled attack begs the question: Why did nobody think of trying it earlier?

Viduka's recurrent injury problems are the primary reason but Keegan has been proved right in holding back the talented Aussie until satisfied that he has reached a certain level of fitness.

For the first time this season the former Leeds favourite started a fourth successive game and the Keegan added: 'He can only get better. I'd say Mark is only 80 per cent match fit right now but he's giving me all I could ask of him and more.

'He is the focal point for the team going forward. We build from Mark.'