NO Premiership title was ever won in February. There's one man who knows that for a fact, and he arrives back on Tyneside next weekend.

Kevin Keegan's Newcastle must have believed in February 1996 - with the infamous 12 point lead - that the Premiership was all but theirs.

He returns with his Manchester City side for the fifth round FA Cup encounter six years after the empire he helped create at St James' Park appeared ready to reap its rewards.

We know now however that those rewards never materialised and the Newcastle United of today is not the 'money no object' team that Keegan built.

Bobby Robson admitted as much when spending £5m on Jermaine Jenas last week - he had to persuade chairman Freddy Shepherd of the teenager's merits.

Keegan would more likely than not have bought the player then told Sir John Hall afterwards that he needed to send a cheque to Nottingham Forest.

If their managerial reigns on Tyneside are vastly different, they do still have on thing in common - both would love to see Newcastle win the Premiership title.

But Robson steadfastly refuses to make any noises about the big prize.

"There's nobody shaking anybody off," he said.

"The position is the same as it has been for weeks.

"I won't change my stance - It looks as though it will go right to the end.

"It's exciting and we should just enjoy every Saturday afternoon and we'll see what happens.

"We've got 12 games to play - six at home, six away - if we win all 12 we'll win it.

"But can we win all 12? I doubt it."

Keegan's return will provide some light relief for the Newcastle fans whose nerves are starting to fray as the countdown to May 11 begins in earnest.

The last two 'banana blips' in the shape of Bolton and now Southampton have been overcome.

Next up in the league is an 11 day spell crucial to Newcastle's title and, possibly more realistically, Champions League aspirations.

The Wear-Tyne derby is followed by the visit of Arsenal and then a trip to Liverpool.

After that it's a breeze for the Magpies - well that's how the story goes anyway.

Southampton proved to be what they threatened they would - a tough obstacle to overcome for Newcastle.

As Gordon Strachan pointed out they were good from 18-yard box to 18-yard box.

But they have no Alan Shearer, no Craig Bellamy and no Laurent Robert.

The Frenchman calmed a few nerves with his 24th minute opener - and what a strike it was.

There seemed little danger when Paul Williams brought down Gary Speed 35 yards from goal, but Robert decided to have a crack and it flew in past a slightly leaden-footed Paul Jones.

A minute later Robert had the chance for a second but this time Jones was ready to palm away his effort from the edge of the box.

Five minutes later and it was 2-0. Shearer, who had missed an earlier chance from a Robert cross at the back post, was in the same place again to head in Nolberto Solano's corner.

But the Saints are made of sterner stuff now Strachan is at the helm and they hit back through Latvian hitman Marian Pahars.

Newcastle defence dithered on a Paul Telfer cross allowing both Chris Marsden and Anders Svensson to apply flicks for Pahars to lit the ball over Shay Given from six yards.

But Bellamy, who Robson described as being 'on fire', was refusing to keep a low profile and when he put the pressure on Claus Lundekvam just before half-time the centre-half brought him down.

Up stepped the skipper and it was 3-1.

The second-half saw Newcastle attack relentlessly with Bellamy and Shearer both hitting the post, and Solano bringing the best out of Jones.

Near the end Pahars had two chances to cut the deficit but both times he blazed over.

Three more points in the bag and after a tough three game Premiership programme to come, the visit of Ipswich Town in March should come as a little light relief.

* Bobby Robson refused to comment on any disciplinary action the club might take following Craig Bellamy's police caution for assault last week, but the club is expected to issue a statement on the matter today.

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