Keegan promises help for Gascoigne

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has promised his former bootboy Paul Gascoigne all the help the club can give him in his hour of need.

Keegan revealed he has spoken to the 40-year-old's family in the wake of his detention under the Mental Health Act to offer any assistance he can to the former Magpies player.

Keegan said: "We as a club will do everything we can to help. His family know that, we have talked with them, and we can help a lot."

He added: "It's sad, but maybe what has happened now will be a turning point for him, and instead of looking on it as something that is really bad, this might be the best thing.

"I have talked with his Dad and one of his sisters and I know it looks negative, but I think it is a massive positive for Paul Gascoigne from all the information I have had.

"This is a good thing for him and although in the short term it does not look that way, in the long term I think it will prove to be really important in the life of Paul Gascoigne."

Gascoigne was emerging from the ranks at St James' Park as Keegan was leading the fight for promotion back to the top flight in 1983-84.

The current manager revealed he had to carpet the then-teenager for the quality of service he provided.

Keegan said: "He was my bootboy when I was a player here back in 1983-84 - and not a very good bootboy. He lost one of my boots, and I was scoring quite a lot of goals that season, so I can remember giving him a bit of a run-over for that.

"He wanted to prove to his mates that he was my bootboy."