Kevin Keegan's return to football is good for the game, according to Roy Keane, who is "delighted" to see the former Liverpool great back at the helm at Newcastle United.

Keane will lock horns with Keegan for the first time as a manager when Sunderland meet their north-east rivals this weekend.  His side have the task of ending the Magpies' five-game unbeaten run as they look to secure their top flight status.

Keane, who so often espouses the need for players to have a desire for the game, claims Keegan has brought that back to Newcastle and despite their adversarial roles this week, he is full of admiration for the feel-good factor that Keegan instils in his sides.

"I was delighted to see him come back in, absolutely delighted," Keane said today. "You see a lot of people in football, and a lot of people are maybe even losing their love for the game.

"What shouldn't be underestimated, and I am not being disrespectful, is Kevin's enthusiasm.

"It is absolutely brilliant and I love that. It was only a matter of time before they started getting back to winning ways.

"Football needs people like Kevin Keegan, trust me."

Keegan had to wait nine games for his first win, but a return of 11 points from the last 15 on offer sends the Magpies into the derby brimming with confidence.

"Any manager will tell you, it takes time. But unfortunately, managers do not get that time," added the Corkman. "Everyone needs to be patient and we are seeing that now even with Kevin Keegan. He has still only been back two minutes.

"The game can become very robotic, but what you see with Kevin is that he loves the game and that is rubbing off on his players.

"The players, particularly over the last few of weeks, seem to have been playing with great freedom and they seem to be really enjoying the game.

"If you want to be at the top, top level, you have got to enjoy being a footballer and you have got to enjoy the so-called pressures of the game."

Keane's three-game winning run came to an end last Saturday when Manchester City won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light with the help of a controversial penalty.

He has since received an apology from referees' chief Keith Hackett but insists it doesn't make much difference to the supporters.

If he is to get back to winning ways he will have to do so without midfielder Dickson Etuhu, who will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee ligament surgery.