SIR BOBBY ROBSON has saluted Kevin Keegan for "rousing the sleeping giant'' at Newcastle United.

Robson's Magpies face one-time boss Keegan when Premiership football returns to Manchester City today.

The clash is also one of eight that both men must undertake this season as five former England managers - Robson, Keegan, Terry Venables, Graham Taylor and Glenn Hoddle - battle for supremacy in their own Premiership mini-league.

Keegan is back in top-flight management for the first time in the five-and-a-half years since he walked out on Newcastle.

His legacy lingers on Tyneside, where Robson has rekindled the feel of the Keegan years and restored Newcastle as a major Premiership force.

But Robson is quick to admit that, without Keegan's swashbuckling near-five-year reign at St James' Park, United would not be where they are today.

Robson conceded: "Kevin got the club up and running and played entertaining football.

"He put the club in a great position and, with the public here, he had a sleeping giant. He roused the giant and the public.

"He got things going - it was a bundle of fun and you have to applaud him.

"He will always be remembered here and treasured by the public for the sort of football his team played, and how he revived the club and brought it back to the forefront of English football. He did a great job.

"But he left and there were highs and lows for a couple of years before I came in here in a similar situation.

"The club weren't as down as they were when Kevin took over - at least we were still in the Premiership. I didn't have to get them out of the First Division.

"I just had to stabilise things and make sure we didn't sink, so I suppose it was a bit easier for me.''

Keegan's critics have always claimed that tactical naivety is his big weakness and the chief reason why he failed as England manager.

But Robson, who insists Keegan showed "courage and bravery" in taking over at a club of City's stature, declared: "He's done very well in club management - he's done three fantastic jobs.

"He did a great job at Fulham and left them in good hands.

"He made an honest appraisal about himself when he left the England job - whether that was right or wrong, I don't know.

"He was tempted into the England job and maybe it didn't go right for him.

"He saw that, got out of it, and got on with his life. I think he's been very sensible about it and he has had the courage and the bravery to come back into the game at managerial level at a pressure club like City. He had a wonderful year last season.

"He got them back in the Premiership, so what has he got to prove? He's a very enthusiastic chap who gets on with players - he's effervescent.''

Robson and Keegan are pitting their wits this season against fellow ex-England bosses Venables (Leeds) Taylor (Aston Villa) and Hoddle (Tottenham).

The first of these duels took place a week ago when Robson was among the crowd to see Leeds beat Keegan's City 3-0 at Elland Road.

And Robson confessed: "There's an edge to these games - it's a one-to-one confrontation.

"We all respect each other, but we'll be trying to outfox each other. I don't think you'll ever see this happen again, where there are five former England managers in the Premiership.

"There's a special interest in our game this weekend because it's also one between ex-Newcastle managers.''

Robson believes Keegan's £13m swoop for striker Nicolas Anelka was evidence of City's determination to preserve their Premiership status.

"Kevin was quick to buy and it shows their intent to stay in the Premiership,'' said Robson.

"I saw Anelka last Saturday and he's very quick and very dangerous. You have to pay attention to him - but he'll score goals whatever you do.

"They lost 3-0 at Leeds and I thought a bit undeservedly.''

Meanwhile, Robson revealed that striker Craig Bellamy and winger Laurent Robert could be back for the visit to Liverpool on Monday week.

Bellamy, who hasn't started a game since United won at Sunderland in February, is back in training and "on track'' in his recovery from knee surgery at the end of last season.

"You never know with Craig - he's almost there and in a week's time he might be up for it,'' said Robson. I think I could get a half out of him at the moment; he played for an hour in a practice match and looked brilliant.''

It was feared Robert would be out for three months with a stress fracture of the back, but Robson said: "He's no more than two weeks away. He's training on his own, but it wouldn't surprise me if both Laurent and Craig were fit for Liverpool.''

There was more good news on the injury front for Robson, with midfielder Gary Speed (ankle) and defender Andy O'Brien (shin) both in the squad for today's game.

Midfielder Clarence Acuna is also no more than ten days from being available after a thigh injury, while striker Carl Cort, who has had groin trouble, is back in training. Alan Shearer today makes his 300th Premiership appearance.

Meanwhile, Wales boss Mark Hughes has included Craig Bellamy in his squad for the European Championship qualifier in Finland on September 7.

* Feyenoord claim Newcastle are in talks over £10m-rated Australia midfielder Brett Emerton.

The Rotterdam club's senior manager, Fred Blankemeijer, said: "We're in negotiations with Newcastle and we'll see what happens."

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