Keegan last week claimed his side were a "million miles" from the top four and was duly summoned to a London meeting with the club's owners on Friday.

>> Join the debate in our football forum

He sat and watched Everton claim fifth place and a Uefa Cup spot with a 3-1 victory yesterday.

And whatever was said behind closed doors at Keegan's London summit, he was quick to cite yesterday's opponents as the example Newcastle need to follow.

"Everton are an inspiration to everyone. They do not have a massive squad, but they invested well last summer and they have taken fifth spot, which is a terrific situation to be in.

"They are together as a team, they play for each other. And they have a lot of very, very good players.

"They are the ones to look at. Maybe I wasn't quite right when I said that the top four is always the same, but nearly. But it must be said that if they (Everton) can do what they have done, why can't we?

"They are where we want to be. And in David Moyes they have an excellent manager.

"I was talking to Bill Kenwright as we walked back down the tunnel after the game and he was obviously very proud. But I told him that we are after his club's position next season."

Keegan's opposite number Moyes was left to celebrate his club's fifth place after a dramatic last day that at one stage saw rivals Aston Villa on the brink of snatching Uefa Cup football from the Toffees.

Moyes said: "I feel we deserved it. We have been in the top five since new year, and our form has been coming back in recent games."

But Moyes accepts his side were sweating at one stage in the second half when they knew Villa were winning at West Ham.

Newcastle had just equalised with a Michael Owen penalty and another goal for the Magpies could have sent Villa into Europe instead.

Villa would have qualified themselves had Everton lost and they won at Upton Park.

But, in the end, Dean Ashton scored a late equaliser for the Hammers, while Ayegbeni Yakubu struck his second of the game for Everton while Joleon Lescott also scored to make sure of the Merseysiders' win.

Moyes said: "I wanted to win, I wanted 65 points. In many other seasons, that would have got us into the Champions League. When we did achieve that a couple of years ago, we did it with 61 points.

"This is one of my most pleasing seasons at the club, but I always prefer to think that the most pleasing season is still to come."

And Moyes also made it clear that he expects fruitful talks about his new contract "in the next week or so".

Moyes said: "I am totally relaxed about the situation. I am due for some talks maybe in a few days, maybe next week."