NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer believes Kevin Keegan's influence at the club is still paying dividends more than five years after he quit St James' Park.

Keegan is back at St. James' Park tomorrow with his Manchester City side for the FA Cup fifth round tie - his first competitive return since he left in January 1997.

The former Magpies chief, who spent five years in the Newcastle hotseat, is guaranteed to receive a hero's welcome when he walks out on to the Tyneside turf.

And Shearer, who was bought by Keegan from Blackburn for £15m in 1996, insists a glowing reception for the Newcastle legend is exactly what he deserves.

"Rightly so because of what he did for this football club," said the 31-year-old, who lies just five goals behind Jackie Milburn's 23-goal FA Cup club record.

"This club would not be where it is today without Kevin and the great reception what he gets on Sunday he thoroughly deserves. He did a hell of a lot for this club.

"He was one of the reasons why I came here, there were a couple of others as well, but you know what he's like when he gets talking, he is very persuasive."

Keegan led Newcastle to second place in the Premiership in 1996, before quitting, and Shearer admits that there was no player at the club more disappointed to see the boss go than him.

"It was always my dream to come and play here. I wasn't going to turn that down," he said.

"But he was one of the reasons why I came here, part of it was for Kevin, another part was to wear the number nine and play at St. James' and another part was to win silverware.

"With the team we had then perhaps we should have done that.

"And no-one was more devastated than me when Kevin left, just after Christmas, because I had only worked with him for six months."

And Shearer, who also played under Keegan with England, is predicting his ex-national team coach to lead City out of the First Division and into similar exciting days.

Newcastle's top-scorer said: "I know what Kevin's got and as soon as he got the Man City job it was an absolute nap, there wasn't a better bet in the country that Man City would get in the Premiership.

"They might not be successful straight away when they get up there but it won't take them that long to turn into a top outfit again. I know how he operates and I know how he works.

"Don't bet against everything that happened here at Newcastle happening at City.

"They have got a tremendous fan base and they are a big club - I'm sure they'll have money to spend once they are up, so it's following exactly the same path."

When the two sides clash at 7pm tomorrow night, all eyes will be on Keegan. But, ironically, his return to the North-East comes at a time when Newcastle have got a new hero in manager Bobby Robson, who celebrates his 69th birthday on Monday. And Shearer is convinced the present incumbent of the St. James' hotseat has guided them back to the brink of glory.

"The fans now love Bobby up here, and rightly so, because it's fantastic what he's done for this club," said Shearer, whose goals have helped Newcastle to within touching distance of top-spot in the Premiership.

"Both are great at man-management and getting the best of out of the players and I think that's the one similarity which stands out a mile for me.

"They both share similar passions for the game."

Robson, meanwhile, is adamant the 'tie of the round' will be a classic encounter.

And he is aware of how good a job Keegan did during his reign, and admits the ovation he receives will be one he is entitled to.

"Kevin Keegan's return to St. James' obviously spirals the amount of interest and I understand that," said Robson.

"He did a wonderful job while he was here and they almost won the championship and he brought an exciting brand of football to the club. He was here five years and then left, so that adds to the flavour.

"They are going well and we are going well; they score goals, we score goals; they lose goals and we lose goals; so it's up for grabs.

"They don't forget here, it's an adoring public and during that particular time he will go down as one of the legends at the club, why not?

"The public will respond to that, but I think those sentiments will go out the window at 3pm or 7pm or whenever.

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