Keegan pleads for patience but hopes to give Newcastle fans back their dreams

Keegan, who quit the club 11 years ago, made a stunning return to St James' Park last night when he was announced as Sam Allardyce's successor.

Former England boss Keegan took the Magpies from English football's second tier to the brink of a Premier League title in his first stint in charge.

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His return appears to have set Tyneside buzzing with kick-off in last night's FA Cup replay with Stoke put back 15 minutes due to crowd congestion.

Allardyce's reign and style of football proved unpopular but Keegan, out of the game since leaving Manchester City three years ago, says he knows what the fans want and believes he can deliver success.

"I know what they want and I know what they don't want as well," he told talkSPORT. "As long as they are realistic and patient I think we can try again to help them have dreams and possibly win something."

Keegan watched last night as Newcastle overpowered Stoke 4-1 and his first match in charge will be Saturday's home clash with Bolton in the Barclays Premier League.

"I am just as excited this time as I was when I came to play here at 31 and when I came as a manager at 43 or 44," he said.

"I think this is right, I have certainly inherited a strong, talented group of players - which is something I didn't have when I came last time.

"When I came last time we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium. That is not a problem.

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"They will be trying to get a stadium big enough if we can put some football on and get some success here. The job in hand is a big job, it is a great club."

One of Keegan's first tasks on meeting the squad will be to try to build bridges with main striker Michael Owen.

England forward Owen admitted in his autobiography that he was unimpressed with Keegan's handling of him during his time as international boss.

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Magpies hero Alan Shearer, however, who who partnered Owen for club and country, believes the pair will soon put their differences behind them.

Newcastle's record goalscorer told BBC Radio Five Live: "I have gone on record as saying any I think any centre forward playing under Kevin Keegan will, dare I us the words, 'love it'.

"He wants to attack and play with two wingers and get balls into the box. If that is the case Michael Owen will certainly enjoy playing under him. He will score goals.

"They are grown adults and will get over that. I think that is in the past and the two men will look to the future."

Owen is still trying to make his mark at Newcastle after being plagued by injuries since his £16million move to the club from Real Madrid in 2005.

Keegan managed England for 19 months from 1999-2000 and it was during the Euro 2000 tournament that Owen felt aggrieved with his methods.

"I used to go into games feeling believing that the opposition was scared of me and feeling nothing could get in my way," Owen wrote. "That feeling, that belief, evaporated at times when I played under Keegan.

"I don't think Keegan had any sort of personal agenda against me, I just think that as England manager at a major tournament he felt under enormous pressure and he needed something or someone to blame.

"I was an easy target. I wasn't on top of my game."