"That could be our central defensive partnership for the next five years. They are both signed for that length of time, so now it is up to them.

Yesterday was the first time they have played together and there are signs today that it could be quite a good partnership which may get even better."

Despite Coloccini's late arrival he added:

"I was not concerned about the fitness side but because we did not get the registration through until Friday he could not train with the group,

But when I saw him train with the team on Saturday I knew he would love going to Old Trafford. He wanted to play. That was it."

"I have told Steven to watch and learn,

I am sure he will because he has such a great attitude.

He got a bad knock when we scored that would have seen a lot of players come off, but not Steven.

If he does what we ask, he will make another step up and go from the Under-21s to where Coloccini is.

The key is he wants to learn because some young players don't."

Keegan said of Gutierrez:

"I am dying to see his Spiderman because it means he has scored, although I won't hold my breath because he has only scored four times in 90-odd games,

But I really like him. He has been accepted from the first minute he came to the club. Instead of being a boy looking round, he was a man who knew he could play."

"Too often in the recent past we have bought players, who have not been quite good enough,

They have either not settled or not understood what it means to play for Newcastle.

You can't just say good players can play at Newcastle because history will prove they cannot."

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