Newcastle dance to Keegan’s samba beat

AFTER Newcastle recorded a third successive victory for the first time this season, confirming their Premier League status in the process, the club’s manager, Kevin Keegan, joked that Ronaldinho was on his reserve list of leading summer targets.

In truth, when United play the Keegan way, it does not require a giant leap of imagination to picture the world’s most creative attacking talent in a black and white shirt but this was nothing more than a throwaway comment designed to raise a smile.

In all seriousness even Barcelona’s talismanic Brazilian forward would have struggled to oust Newcastle’s fearsome threesome from their places in the starting 11 to face Reading. Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka have led the Magpies’ revival — a healthy haul of 10 points from four fixtures — from the front after Keegan opted for a vibrant, if high-risk, 4-3-3 formation and all three graced an expectant arena with memorable goals.

“I went on YouTube to see for myself what the manager was all about because I wanted to see all his goals when he was a player and get a good look at his team and how they played,” revealed Martins.

The former Internazionale forward set the ball rolling before Owen and Viduka matched their young colleague either side of half-time.

“No wonder they were called The Entertainers,” he added. “Kevin was a fantastic player and I would have to say he was better than me. But the team which came so close to the title here, when he was manager the first time, was a great side.

“You can see from those clips, and the way he is now, that he is a manager who loves his strikers.”

In that respect Keegan is at one with his adoring public and the former England manager was jumping for joy with the rest of the appreciative Geordie hordes as his new entertainers served up a sumptuous feast of flowing football.

Ironically the best move of the afternoon, crafted by Nicky Butt and Joey Barton and featuring a Viduka dummy, was spoiled when Owen scooped his shot over Marcus Hahnemann’s crossbar.

Had Barton, or the impressive substitute Damien Duff, been able to add the gloss to a performance par excellence with the late goals their approach merited then it would have been all Newcastle deserved. Roll on next season, even without Ronaldinho.

NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Harper 8, Beye 9, Edgar 7, Faye 8 (Diatta, 82, 6), Enrique 7, Geremi 7, Butt 8 (Smith, 79), Barton 7, Viduka 8 (Duff, 74, 6), Owen 8, Martins 8.

Subs Not Used: Forster, Carroll.

READING (4-4-2): Hahneman 5, Rosenior 4, Bikey 4, Ingimarsson 3, Shorey 4, Oster 4 (Convey, 60, 4), Harper 5, Cisse 4 (Fae, 72, 5), Hunt 7, Kitson 6 (Long, 72, 5), Doyle 6.

Subs Not Used: Federici, Duberry.

REFEREE: Lee Probert (Wiltshire): He may have been missed off the official team sheet but Probert made his presence felt on the pitch with a composed and accomplished performance.

MATCH RATING: **** A long overdue return to form. There were dummies, back heels and a trademark somersault celebration from Martins. Magical stuff.