Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan again showed his class when giving Peter Ramage a last-minute farewell appearance in yesterday's defeat at Everton.

Ramage is leaving hometown club Newcastle in the summer and he told the Sunderland Echo: "We picked up a few injuries over the week, and I was told on Saturday morning I would travel, and maybe be on the bench.

"David Edgar went down injured on Saturday morning, and the gaffer said he'd only put me on if it was 100 per cent necessary. The gaffer just said to me he wasn't going to put me on no matter what, as he didn't want me to get injured and scupper a move, but as the game wore on, he kept looking at me. I thought I might get on, and then he said: 'You deserve this chance - go out and enjoy it'.

"It was a nice touch, and something I'll never forget.

"I didn't want to end my career at the club having been stretchered off in my last match, and I'll always be grateful to him. I can say I played under Kevin Keegan, and that's something I'll always treasure. He's a legend at Newcastle.

"It was brilliant to get on for the last minute, but, to be honest, I'd have settled for 10 seconds. It didn't bother me."

Ramage was among those players to throw their shirts to the travelling fans, and whenever he can he will be on the other side of the fence next season.

He added: "I threw it into the crowd as a thank you. It was something I wanted to do. They're always brilliant with the local lads, I think they can relate to you. They've been brilliant to me with their support for the last three or four years, and now I'll be one of them.

"I'll try to get to as many matches as I can. Next season I'll in amongst them, shouting and bawling."