Sir Bobby Robson has warned Kevin Keegan he has a huge battle on his hands at Newcastle United.

Former Toon manager Robson told the Evening Chronicle: "Kevin has a mammoth job all right, a really difficult job because his squad is not good enough.

"That is the harsh fact of the matter. He has to make do and mend until the summer, when he can put together his own team. That will mean retaining some, but definitely getting rid of others.

"They will not win anything this season, but equally, won't go down. I am convinced of that because of the points they have in hand over the bottom clubs.

"However, it is not going to be pretty. It is going to be a tough slog.

"Coming back to where he has such a huge reputation and risking it is a brave thing to do.

"Of course he is finding it tough. We all hoped they would have got a lift and won under Keegan by now."

Robson, who famously dropped Keegan from his England side, is still a regular visitor to St James', has predicted an injection of pace into the side this summer.

He said: "There is a lot that can be improved in the team, including the fact that there is not enough pace throughout the side, not enough legs all over the park.

"Charles N'Zogbia is quick and so is Obafemi Martins, but who else? I don't think Michael Owen is as sharp as he was at his very best.

"And you have to be intelligent, of course, as well as quick.

"The likes of Alan Smith, Nicky Butt, Mark Viduka, Geremi and so on may be all right individually, but put together, the team is short on legs.

"I deliberately got pace into my side and I think Kevin will do likewise come the summer."