Kevin Keegan told Newcastle United supporters last night to “expect anything” after his appointment as manager, including the tantalising prospect of Alan Shearer returning to St James’ Park in a senior capacity. While the two most influential men in the club’s recent history have not yet spoken, Tyneside’s ultimate fantasy football partnership remains a possibility.

The notion of Shearer – who had expressed an interest in succeeding Sam Allardyce – being installed in a coaching role has already been discussed by Keegan and Chris Mort, the Newcastle chairman. While the club’s record goalscorer has admitted that he does “not see myself as a No 2”, he has also offered his assistance should it be required.

“I want to bring the very best to Newcastle United,” Keegan said, “and if there’s a role that Alan wants and it’s right, I would love to have him back. I will definitely talk to him.”

Although Keegan signed the former England captain for £15 million in 1996, the pair are not close. “Kevin and I have talked about it and it’s his call,” Mort said.

Keegan, who, in his third incarnation at Newcastle, has agreed a 3½year contract, has already made some minor adjustments to his back-room staff, with Arthur Cox, 69, his long-time mentor, rejoining the club in an advisory position. However, Derek Fazackerley, another acolyte, is expected to remain at Manchester City, Keegan’s erstwhile club.

Another striker at the top of Newcastle’s agenda is Michael Owen, whose autobiography features trenchant criticism of Keegan’s spell as England manager, which he described as a “dark phase” of his career and an experience that left him “scarred.”

“He’s entitled to his opinion, but I was pretty shocked at what he wrote,” Keegan said. “I’m looking forward to working with him. I love Michael both as a person and, more importantly in this situation, as a player and what I want to do now is to build up a better relationship than obviously he felt we had last time. One of the reasons I am so excited to be here is that Michael is at this club.”

Newcastle have sold several hundred part-season tickets on the back of Keegan’s arrival and this evening’s game at home to Bolton Wanderers, his first in charge, will be sold out; adidas, the club sponsors, are handing out 60,000 gold paper crowns to commemorate “King Kev’s” third coming and the club are investigating the feasibility of extending the stadium’s capacity.

“I think I’m the best-qualified person to do this job,” Keegan, who has barely watched a game since his departure from Manchester City in March 2005, said. “Now I’ve got my chance to show people that I can. Every time another manager has been appointed here, you have a bit of envy. You think ‘wow, that’s fantastic’, but it could have been me.”

Having met Mike Ashley for the only time on Wednesday morning, Keegan shares the ambitions of Newcastle’s billionaire owner. “Take away the top four and this club is as big as any,” he said. “It’s the only place I’d have come back to. This club and the job ahead doesn’t scare me. It is possible to win something here.”

Keegan did not dismiss reports linking him with the likes of Jermain Defoe and Wayne Bridge. “I think we are a club who can go and get big players,” he said. “If we want to bring someone here – and we’ll be trying to fetch in two or three – and I go and ask [Ashley], I’ll get the finance.”