Mike Ashley will be in Newcastle today to attempt to clean up the mess left by his decision to sack Sam Allardyce last week.

The Sun says the billionaire owner has been in Hong Kong for a week and will talk to his board over the botched attempt to land Harry Redknapp.

Ashley plans to sit down with chairman Chris Mort and discuss a move for Mark Hughes, as well as considering other targets, including the prospect of Gerard Houllier working alongside Alan Shearer.

And a shock return for Kevin Keegan, 56, was not ruled out by the former Tyneside hero yesterday.

Keegan admitted: "I'm not ruling myself out, in or anything. It's a club I love, everyone knows that."

Ashley is happy to leave caretaker boss Nigel Pearson in place until he finds the right man.