Keegan hopes for Faye factor

Newcastle boss welcomes back defender

Last updated: 15th February 2008

Kevin Keegan Newcastle v Middlesbrough 3rd Feb 2008

Keegan: Faye praise

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Kevin Keegan admits he has been 'very impressed' by Abdoulaye Faye and hopes the defender can help steer Newcastle to Premier League safety.

Faye, who was signed from Bolton last summer by former manager Sam Allardyce, has yet to play under Keegan because he has been on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.

However, the defender was on the Newcastle bench for last Saturday's 4-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa after returning from Ghana.

And Keegan has now hinted that Faye will be joined by compatriot Habib Beye in the Newcastle first XI for next Saturday's league clash with Manchester United

Impressed

Keegan welcomes United to St James' Park desperate for his first win in his second managerial stint in the North East, as Newcastle sit in 13th position in the table and just six points off the relegation zone.

"I am delighted to have Abdoulaye back. I have been very impressed with both him and Habib Beye," said Keegan.

"They both played a part in Senegal's tournament and now have a role to play here.

"As far as Abdoulaye is concerned, he is a very good professional and he has done a very good job here.

Experience

"He is a big lad and we certainly need some height in the team at the moment. But it is not only his height, he has great experience as well."

And Keegan also hopes to have Nigeria forward Obafemi Martins and midfielder Geremi available for United's visit.

Martins missed the defeat to Villa with an ankle injury, while Geremi returned to England later than the others as Cameroon reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations only to be defeated by Egypt.

"By the time we play Manchester United, I hope to have all four of the players that were involved in Ghana back in contention. That will give everybody here a big lift," Keegan concluded.