Keegan Warns His Big Names The Kids Are Primed And Ready!

United have not beaten top-flight opposition since mid-December, a period which includes the whole of Keegan's second spell as manager to date.

And Keegan has warned his under-performing players their unconvincing displays could see them lose their places to the teenagers currently playing for Newcastle's reserves.

Keegan: "I said to the players, 'There's no one nailing down much in terms of the first team.

"Usually you have seven, eight or nine who are definite regulars. But that's an incentive for everyone at the club to get into the team.

"They can see they have got a good chance and that includes the young players. All these young guys have got a future here and it's down to them as much as it is to us.

"Tamas Kadar has taken everything in his stride.

"He does not speak the language but he is learning one or two things. But on a football field, where there is a language all of its own, he is saying all the right things.

"We have also got Fabio Zamblera joining in (training) now and he is only 17. He's been playing against the likes of Steven Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye in training and is learning something new every day."