Not the returning hero most fans had in mind…

Joe Kinnear is considering bringing Irish right-back Stephen Carr back to Newcastle just months after Kevin Keegan decided he was surplus to requirements and released him.

Reports have linked both Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen with the 32-year-old but the fact that he is still looking for work two months into the season shows just how substantial that interest was.

Interim boss Kinnear candidly revealed: “We are short at both right and left-back, and it is not fair asking young boys who are really central defenders to play there.

“When that happens they look what they are - central defenders playing as full- backs.

“Stephen Carr is available and he is an experienced full- back, so we will just have to wait and see.”

Did Keegan made a mistake in releasing the defender or is Kinnear crossing the line by daring to question one of King Kev’s decisions? Does this mean that if Keegan returns he will end up releasing Carr all over again? Let us know with a comment below.