United find Secret Formula to Steer Path to Safety

Ross Jackson

The phoenix has well and truly risen from the ashes, the bird is back on its perch and the prized boxer, who had been knocked on his backside, is back on his feet and swinging.

I can’t think of many other ways to describe the epic turnaround taking place at St James’ Park, as the Geordies continue to rise up the table, bringing back memories of yesteryear when the Magpies were a true Premiership force.

What many observers will not realise is the secret behind the success.

It is not the fact that Michael Owen has finally got back on the goals trail, taking on a deeper lying role which accommodates himself, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka in a three pronged attack that oozes goals.

It is not down to Joey Barton showing signs of the player he once was at Manchester City, or the ever-increasing influence of the superb Nicky Butt as he pulls the strings in front of the back four.

It isn’t even down to the newfound solidity in the back four which has seen the Toon concede just two goals in five games, a prospect unheard of earlier in the season when, then manager, Sam Allardyce watched on as his side recorded the second worst defensive record in the division, only bettered, or worsened should I say, by the doomed Derby County.

The key to success rests in the pairing of the two full backs, Joes Enrique and Habib Beye.

Both have been superb over recent weeks, with the formation being changed to encourage them to advance down the flanks regularly, providing an overlap and an extra two men in midfield to complement the central trio of Barton, Butt and Geremi.

The Spaniard and the French/Senegalese defenders have been a pleasure to watch as Newcastle look to pour forward at every opportunity, often overwhelming their opponents, akin to the good old days under Keegan.

When they both play, in their favoured positions, Newcastle tend to win. They have lost only three times with them in the back four.

This is an amazing statistic considering just how many times Newcastle have lost this season.

Enrique was originally signed by Sam Allardyce in the summer. However the £6m man soon found himself out of the team with Allardyce claiming he wasn’t up to the pace of the Premiership just yet.

This was the first sign of the former Bolton manager losing the plot. Surely the only way to get up to pace was to actually play? Enrique remained on the bench with Charles N’Zogbia, a left winger who will freely admit he is no full-back, filling in.

When he did play it was in fleeting sub-appearances and the Spaniard, nicknamed “the bull”, did look rusty, but that was not his fault.

Keegan came in, saw the clear potential of the youngster from Villarreal and immediately put him in the team.

Ever since, the powerful left-back has measured up in every inch to his nickname. Hard to shrug off the ball, strong runner, willing to go forward at every chance, and a great foil for Barton on that flank, Jose Enrique is fast developing into one of the finest left-backs in Europe. That is no exaggeration.

As Newcastle regain their composure in the league, one constantly good performer remains.

Habib Beye is a quality right-back, signed for just £2m from Marseille in the summer.

He is the embodiment of a right-back and right winger mixed into one attack minded full-back with pace to burn and a genuine desire to get to the byline, not his own but the oppositions’.

The fact he is just the wrong side of 30 means absolutely nothing as the athletic and energetic performances combine with an experienced head, thus producing some fantastic showings.

Time and again he beats his opposing full-back to whip some dangerous balls into, under Allardyce anyway, the previously service-starved Mark Viduka.

Not since watching Real Madrid full-backs Roberto Carlos and Michel Salgado have I seen two defenders provide such entertainment and flair.

It is a pleasure to watch the pair in tandem and Newcastle benefit as a result.

Kevin Keegan must have one eye on next season, with Premiership safety all but assured. There are rumours flying around of big changes in the playing staff, but it seems the left-back and right-back vacancies have already been filled and, if Newcastle fans are lucky, should be filled by the names Enrique and Beye for many years to come.