Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan is driving his players hard in preseason training.

The 57-year-old saw his team beat League One Hartlepool 4-1 at Victoria Park yesterday after 12 days' training, and was impressed with what he saw.

Keegan said: "When we came back, we said we can be fitter and we can be stronger.

"We might not have the biggest squad this season and we might not have the best squad in the Premier League because there are some big clubs out there with big squads and a lot of quality players.

"But we can be the fittest team, and that is what we have tried to do. That is why we have never left the training ground."

Keegan will take his side to home-town club Doncaster next weekend as they step up their preparations with executive director (football) Dennis Wise and his team still searching for new recruits.