It’s a new lease of life for relieved Ameobi at St James’

Frozen out of the first-team picture by former boss Sam Allardyce, Ameobi had been ready to leave St James' Park during the current transfer window.

With Premier League Middlesbrough and Championship Norwich City ready to make a formal approach for his services, the 26-year-old had accepted a need to leave Tyneside after Allardyce refused to even name on him on the bench despite his return to full fitness following a combination of groin and back problems.

Keegan's arrival has changed all that, and after making his first Premier League start since September 17 in Saturday's goalless draw with Bolton, Ameobi is hoping the start of a new managerial era will also mark a dramatic change in his fortunes.

"When they say a week is a long time in football, it certainly is," said the striker, who is one of the few members of the current Newcastle squad to have progressed from the club's Academy. "The situation under Sam was that he had his own guys and, unfortunately, I wasn't part of his plans.

"It was a hard pill to swallow, especially after having been at the club so long. All of a sudden, I found myself frozen out.

"As a player, you have your ups and downs, and the last few months have definitely been a downer, but in steps King Kev and he's given me a lifeline."

That lifeline would almost certainly not have existed had Mike Ashley kept patience with Allardyce for another two or three weeks.

Ameobi didn't ask for a transfer from Tyneside before Allardyce was sacked at the start of the month, but had the former Bolton boss remained in place in the last week of the current transfer window, he would almost certainly have demanded an exit from St James' Park.

"I could have left the club," admitted the former England Under- 21 international. "I have been out for virtually two years, and I need to be playing football.

That was always going to be the most important thing.

"I didn't ask to leave in so many words when Sam was here, but I have always said there is not a place for me where I am not wanted, and the (former) manager knew that.

"I have always wanted to play for this club and, if I'm given the chance to play, there's no way I would leave.

"It's a clean slate for me now, and a fresh start for everyone. That's something Kevin said to all of the players straight away, and it was music to the ears for me."

Having been raised in Newcastle from an early age, Ameobi is well aware of the impact Keegan made during his first spell at the club.

Like his team-mate, Steven Taylor, Ameobi was a St James' Park regular during Keegan's glory days, sitting in the old East Stand paddocks and thrilling at the cavalier football that earned Newcastle the sobriquet of The Entertainers'.

Similar excitement seemed a lifetime away during much of Saturday's humdrum goalless draw with the Trotters, but with Keegan having resurrected Newcastle once already, Ameobi is confident the club's new manager is capable of overseeing an improvement in fortunes once again.

"I was with Newcastle schoolboys when Kevin was here last time," he said. "And I remember going to the games. I didn't really have anything to do with it because I was still at school, but I went to every home game and remember the great football we played.

"Living in the city, you can't fail to notice what has happened since he returned.

"I am a massive fan myself and I don't think I have experienced anything like the impact he has had on a lot of my friends. Being a part of that now is amazing.

"Unfortunately, we didn't play to our potential against Bolton.

They stuck everyone behind the ball and we didn't break them down, but that isn't going to stop the positive energy that the last two or three days has generated.

"We didn't lose, we gave everything we had, and we kept on going. We had great momentum from the crowd, and hopefully it's a stepping stone to do great things.

"This was the just the start.

We would have loved to win, but it's a draw and it's one game unbeaten."