Latest football betting: Newcastle specials

After completing his remarkable return to Newcastle United on Wednesday Kevin Keegan is the toast of the Toon, but if Geordies consider their returning hero to be something of a Messiah, the bookmakers are not quite as convinced by the former England coach's managerial prowess. Click here for a free Paddy Power Poker $600 welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker The Magpies are currently lying in eleventh place in the Premier League, six points behind West Ham and 13 adrift of sixth-placed Aston Villa but bridging the divide is widely considered to be beyond even the tub-thumping powers of Mr Motivator himself. Only the most optimistic supporters will take the best-priced 25/1 about their side finishing in the top six although Blue Square's 11/4 about Newcastle finishing in the top ten (they are 1/4 not to) is by no means the worst price in the world. Paddy Power, meanwhile, are offering the widest range of Newcastle betting, including a 'Who will Keegan sign next?' market. Newcastle's defensive frailties are well known, which means Wes Brown is the 6/4 favourite to become the first arrival at St James' Park. However, Keegan never did put much stock in defending and the 9/4 about Tottenham's Andy Cole-like striker Jermain Defoe makes for considerable appeal. If you really want a laugh, Ronaldinho is 25/1 to be lured to Tyneside by Mike Ashley's billions. The Irish bookmaker have also gone so far as to price up where exactly Kevin Keegan's side will finish at the end of the season and, while blinkered KK devotees will be lumping on the 33/1 about the Messiah taking his side to a miraculous fifth-place finish, PP make 12th-place their shortest price at 7/2. Paddy Power are also offering odds on how many league matches the Toon will win out of their next five. Newcastle's upcoming fixtures read: Bolton at home, Arsenal away, Middlesbrough (h), Aston Villa (h) and Manchester United (h) and the odds are 7/2 - No wins, exactly one win: 6/4, two wins 7/4; three wins 13/2; four wins 25/1 and five wins 200/1. The midweek trouncing of Stoke in the FA Cup means morale will already be on the up, but a leaky defence suggests Newcastle cannot be expect to get anything from United, Arsenal or Villa. Boro are also steadily improving, so the bookies cannot be argued with there. Bolton are certainly beatable, though, and anyone expecting fireworks in Keegan's first match in charge can get odds of 11/1 on Newcastle scoring four or more against the Trotters and 40-1 to concede four or more with Blue Square. Despite all his 'success' in the north-east Keegan never won a trophy during his first term and Boylesports believe that even if he does bring the entertainment the fans crave there will be no silverware during this second coming. Newcastle are 3-1 to win the Champions League, Uefa Cup, FA Cup, Carling Cup or Premier League. Coral reckon Keegan, comforted by a blank chequebook, will still be in charge (2/5) come New Year's Day 2009 while Paddy Power are 5/2 that he will not while Hills are already thinking one step ahead and make Alan Shearer, the clear 4/5 favourite to succeed his former boss. Verdict: 2pts Newcastle to finish in top ten @ 11/4 (BlueSq); 1pt Defoe to become Keegan's first signing @ 9/4 (Paddy Power); 1pt Newcastle to score four or more against Bolton on Saturday @ 11/1(BlueSq) Click here for a free Paddy Power Poker $600 welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker