Kinnear's short-term appointment was ridiculed in some quarters, with the 61-year-old having not managed in the top flight for the best part of a decade.

However, Gould was not surprised to see United end a run of five successive defeats away to Everton on Sunday under the guidance of Kinnear, one of his successors as Wimbledon manager.

Kinnear's side fought back from two goals down to claim a much-needed point from a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

And Gould said: "Don't underestimate the part Joe Kinnear played in Newcastle getting that point at Everton.

"I was at Upton Park when they lost a couple of weeks ago in their previous away match, and you could see the difference Joe has made.

"That apart, the thing that struck about the whole afternoon was Steven Taylor when he was being interviewed after the game.

"The young lad could not stop smiling and that's what Joe will do – put the smiles back on the faces of the Newcastle players.

"Taylor's smile said that, in Joe Kinnear, Newcastle's players have somebody who cares about them, and is prepared to fight their corner."

Gould was in the north east last Saturday to cover Sunderland's game against Arsenal for TalkSport, but before taking the microphone the 62-year-old visited St James's Park and had a cup of tea with Kinnear at Newcastle's training ground.

He added: "When I got up on Saturday morning, I went for a run along the beach at Roker, and then I decided to go and see Joe.

"It was the first time I'd been there since I came up with Wimbledon 20 years ago and we knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup, and when I saw St James's Park I couldn't believe how big it has grown.

"This and their fans make Newcastle a big club – but it is not too big for Joe. He'll handle all that."