We must bond, says the boss

Feb 2 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

KEVIN Keegan believes Newcastle United have a major challenge on their hands to prevent the season from petering out into anti-climax.

The Magpies are out of both domestic cup competitions and are well off the pace when it comes to the Premier League’s European qualification places.

Indeed, United’s miserable run of form means they should be more concerned about being dragged into relegation trouble. A defeat at home to Middlesbrough tomorrow would put the Teessiders above them for the first time this season and would mean Newcastle were within striking distance of the drop zone.

Keegan said: “It is a test of character for all of us at the club. I cannot say to the players, ‘ Come on, we can finish in seventh or eighth place’, although we probably would if we went unbeaten until the end of the season.

“But in reality, our season is now just about how high we can finish, and how close we can get together with each other and get the very best out of ourselves.

“I would not say they are on trial but I think at a club, every training session, players have the chance to show what they have got. You learn about character of players, how much the little games are important to win. You need all that at a football club.

“So it is a great time for us to get really close-knit and start to turn this club round. It starts now. It does not start at the beginning of next season.”

Meanwhile, Keegan has revealed his reasons for allowing David Rozenhal to join Lazio on loan until the end of the season, even though he did not have a replacement lined up.

He said: “He had made it obvious he did not want to play out of position. He saw himself as a centre-half and, with Abdoulaye Faye coming back, I thought he could go.

“He is too experienced a player not to have in your squad and there is a danger that, when everyone was back fit, he would not get in the squad, and that is no disrespect.

“He is a prime example of an international coming in and finding this league quite a tough place and he is not on his own in that, every club has that.”