It wasn't a Press conference he would have been relishing, with yesterday's media call coming just 24 hours before summit talks with Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley.

But within seconds Keegan had waiting journalists laughing, likening one TV reporter to the newly-elector Major of London Boris Johnson.

Then it was on to business.

Keegan wasn't taking questions on his meeting with Ashley, or expanding on the explosive comments he made after Monday's home defeat to Chelsea, but he made a short, off-the-cuff statement.

He made it clear that from then on in, he would only be talking about Sunday's visit to Goodison Park.

With the Everton game now almost an afterthought, you wouldn't think that would have left Keegan much else to talk about.

However, typically for Keegan, he was still going more than an hour later.

And what struck me was, despite his well-documented frustrations, Keegan's enthusiasm for reviving the club burns brighter than ever.

He also pledged not to shy away from telling awkward truths, however unpalatable.

"Part of my job as manager of Newcastle United is to tell fans what's happening at their club," said Keegan.

"I'll continue to do what I've always done while I've been manager of Newcastle United, and at Man City, Fulham, and England. I haven't changed.

"I'm not scared of saying what I think the situation is, and I won't change that."

Keegan's honesty has been his undoing at times in his managerial career, but as he pointed out, part of his job is talking to the fans that turn up week in, week out.

They deserve to know the truth, and in an era when players and managers rarely tell it like it is, sometimes honesty really is the best policy.