Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has paid tribute to his "other" captain as he prepares for Sunday's Premier League trip to Tottenham.The Magpies would give their top-flight survival campaign a major boost if they could win at White Hart Lane and complete a double over Spurs, eight days after doing just that to Fulham.

That would, however, be a major achievement with the north London club having shaken off their early season troubles to lift the Carling Cup and make a major push up the league table.

Newcastle claimed all three points in the corresponding fixture last season, courtesy of unlikely hero Nicky Butt's winner.

The 33-year-old may have to concentrate more on his defensive duties this time around, but it is his leadership skills which have impressed Keegan during his second spell as manager at St James' Park.

He said: "He has been vitally important, and the one player who stitches it all together. He just gets on with it.

"Michael (Owen) captains the side, but I see him as another captain out there.

"He has got great experience. Nothing fazes him and he is not scared to say what he thinks if something is not quite right.

"I often go to him or Michael, the experienced players and say, 'Is the training a bit hard today'? or, 'Do you want to do more'?

"They can be a good barometer of the club from a players' point of view, and it is a good barometer. It will not be their opinion, it will be what they think is right.

"They are very important people to have around your club. They are called leaders, and you cannot get enough of them."

But whatever else Butt does at White Hart Lane, Keegan is not counting on his efforts in front of goal this time around.

He said: "I haven't seen him score in training yet - I am only kidding.

"He is not in for his goalscoring, but he is one of those guys who does sometimes get into shooting positions.

"But he is more the link, he is the one who links the defence and the attack."

If Butt is a certain starter on Sunday, Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia may have to remain patient once again.

Keegan has a battle on his hands to keep the clearly dissatisfied midfielder on Tyneside with Spurs among the clubs maintaining an interest in his situation, although he has vowed to do all he can to persuade him to stay.

The manager said: "I still see it the same. We have from now until the end of the season.

"His future lies here for as long as we want because he's got a three-year contract.

"I told him to get his head down and work hard and then we would come back to that at the end of the season.

"That's the promise I made him and that's what we will do. That has not changed."

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