King Keegan back in the old routine

At least that was the way Kevin Keegan was talking after this stunning victory.

This was not quite the Newcastle 5 Manchester United 0 vintage, but a 4-1 win at White Hart Lane is as good a result as any with which to begin the revolution. Michael Owen's chip in the 65th minute was not quite in the same class as Philippe Albert's exquisite lob back in October 1996, but it was stunning all the same.

Things really are looking up for Newcastle. They swatted Spurs aside, recovering from Darren Bent's 26th-minute headed goal to inflict humiliation on the Carling Cup holders.

Nobody lets Newcastle score four times in a single game. They have now. Take it away, Kev.

"You look at this set of players and — wow — we have quality," he said. "You dream of playing like this, being 4-1 up at White Hart Lane with 10 minutes to go. The reality is it could have been seven or eight.' Don't stop there, Kev. Give the Geordie masses some more. Much more. Here goes, then . . .

"Now we can start to look up, not down. We can catch Spurs, we can catch West Ham. If we can add bits to the squad in the summer — and I said this to Terry McDermott the other day — it can set us alight.

"We just need two or three big signings in the summer, but I'm telling you they will have to be good players."

Oh, bring this on. The energy, the enthusiasm and the ecstasy were all in plentiful supply after a performance that reminded Keegan of past glories.

It appeared to be business as usual when Bent celebrated his 250th career appearance by steering Steed Malbranque's cross beyond visiting goalkeeper Steve Harper, but Newcastle were soon in control.

Nicky Butt equalised in first half added time when Jonathan Woodgate failed to clear on the edge of the area and the Newcastle midfielder swept his effort beyond Paul Robinson. From then on, this game was all about Newcastle.

They were rampant after the break, slicing through the Spurs defence at will and skewering them at every opportunity. This had to hurt any self-respecting Spurs supporter.

With Owen in the hole, Newcastle are suddenly a different proposition. Mark Viduka fancies it, as does Obafemi Martins. About time, too.

Viduka's clever decoy run allowed Geremi to plant his 52nd-minute free-kick beyond a flat-footed Robinson from the edge of the area, but the best was yet to come. It became 3-1 when Viduka's wonderful flick with the outside of his boot found Owen and the England striker sent a delicious lob over the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Back to his best, Keegan was justifiably championing his cause.

"It's not for me to say why Michael Owen is not playing for England. You will have to ask Mr Capello that,' said the former England coach before explaining why Owen should be playing for his country.

"I'm surprised if Michael Owen gives the ball away in training," he said. 'He's so fit, he's so sharp and he can run forever. Have a look at his record for Newcastle, have a look at his record for Liverpool and have a look at his record for England. People knock him, but he doesn't let it affect him."

His finish yesterday was certainly of the highest order but so was that of Martins seven minutes from time. He got the goal that his electrifying performance deserved when Joey Barton sent him scampering clear.

He embarrassed Tottenham substitute Teemu Tainio with a swivel of the hips on the edge of the area before burying his effort sweetly beyond Robinson. What a performance. Newcastle went nine games without a win in the League when Keegan returned to St James' Park, but he is ready to let the good times roll again.

Spurs were a shambles. No team on Planet Earth can throw in the towel quite like Tottenham, but their supporters appear resigned to them skipping through their last six games without a care in the world. It is a case of winning the Carling Cup then . . . collapse.

Season tickets at White Hart Lane start at £600, and they could at least do their 36,000 supporters some justice by putting in a decent shift between now and the end of the season.

Manager Juande Ramos said: 'We are at a phase of the season that is not quite so important. It is useful to see the players in a different system, but they are not playing with maximum motivation.

"It is a long season and the level of performance is not as high as it should be. The points are not important."

It was hardly the most robust defence from Ramos. Then again, Keegan had just taken his side to the cleaners.