The players do care, they just need a bit of luck, insists Newcastle boss Keegan

Keegan's return was supposed to to rejuvenate Newcastle, but after eight games without a win his position is coming under increasing scrutiny and accusations have rained down on the players he inherited from Sam Allardyce that they do not care.

Keegan does not accept that.

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"I can understand both press and public questioning players sometimes, but I can only vouch for the ones that are here," he said.

"The training has been good and I can see what they're like when they get beat, they're devastated. There's none of this 'Oh well, it doesn't really matter'. If I ever saw that, I would tell them and I would tell you.

"They're a good set of lads trying very, very hard but, at the moment, they just need a break."

For Keegan the problems continue to mount.

Shay Given has flown to America for consultation on the groin injury that has plagued him for 18 months.

If, as expected, it is decided to operate, he will miss the rest of the campaign, leaving Steve Harper as the only senior goalkeeper going into the crucial final nine games of the season.

"Birmingham is the biggest game in the club's recent history," said Harper.

"There's always pressure at this place, everybody knows it's a pressure cooker, more than any other club.

"The players are not feeling sorry for themselves. We are in this together. Nobody is pointing fingers or accusing people. We have to be united for these nine games because the last two months of the season are enormous for this football club.

"If anybody is underestimating what relegation would do for this club, he shouldn't be here. We are in a battle.

"We have picked up the intensity in the last few weeks. You look for the big characters and experienced players in the squad to pick everyone up. You can't afford to feel sorry for yourself."

The game is all the more important for both sides following wins for Fulham and Wigan yesterday.

How, then, Keegan could do with Mark Viduka's presence in a situation such as this, but the Australian has not started a league game since New Year's Day.

Since then there have been questions over his fitness and his attitude, and Sportsmail understands there was another exchange yesterday morning, with the club's staff increasingly frustrated he has played no part in the fight for survival and is unlikely to feature tonight.

With or without Viduka, one of Keegan's former players believes he has a good enough squad to get Newcastle out of trouble.

Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor was with Keegan at Fulham in the late Nineties, and said: "I hope they get out of it but not at our expense. First and foremost I hope we stay up but I don't think Newcastle will go down with the squad they have."

Four years in charge of Rangers is sufficient for Taylor's current manager Alex McLeish to talk with some understanding of the pressures that come with sitting in one of British football's hottest seats and he has no intention of playing a willing stooge at St Andrew's.

Birmingham are seeking revenge for the injury-time winner inflicted upon them last December on Tyneside in his second game in charge and three points tonight will see them go above Newcastle.

"I'm not seeing signs of a nervous team,' he said. 'I can't praise these guys highly enough for their commitment to Birmingham City. There is individual pride, too. At Portsmouth, we were 2-0 down and fought back tremendously well.

"I am sure people would have expected us to lose at Portsmouth but maybe, on recent form, it wouldn't have been a surprise if we had got something.

"We have to show the same spirit and character to bounce back. We know that if we win, we can go above Newcastle. It is a huge game. If we do, then our chances of survival will be even better."