Is it only five weeks since “The Messiah” returned? Weren’t we all swept away on a euphoric tide of emotion and expectation?

“King Kev!” . . . “Kev’s Back in Toon!” . . . “The Second Coming” screamed the headlines. My, how Tyne flies.

In the time it takes to send a letter from England to Spain (well, almost) hope has faded, dreams have been shattered, expectation has given way to frustration and the promises of deliverance are totally lacking in substance.

Newcastle United are a club in crisis. And it shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise to the thousands of Geordie fans who, on January 16, hailed the arrival of Kevin Keegan at St James’ Park, for a second time.

Even then, Mike Ashley’s motives and wisdom in replacing Sam Allardyce with Keegan were being questioned. Keegan’s CV as a player ranks alongside the best, but he hasn’t pulled up many trees in his managerial career - Second Division championship with Fulham in 1999, Premiership runners-up in 1996, Division One championship with Manchester City in 2002 – hardly Oscar-winning performances.

His first few weeks at St James’ Park have been a nightmare. Sure they had one night of celebration with a third-round FA Cup replay win over Stoke City (followed by a 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the next round), but they haven’t won a single Premier League game.

Keegan’s first five league games read: Played – 5; Won – 0: Drawn – 2: Lost – 5. Goals For – 3: Goals Against – 13. And that doesn’t take into account the 6-0 thumping they suffered at Manchester United four days before King Kev mounted his throne for a second time.

And the reasons for Newcastle’s sad demise are palpably clear. The squad is lacking in both depth and quality; the team lack genuine leadership on the field; and judging by the blank, puzzled expressions on several faces, the management team just don’t have a clue how to turn things around.

James Milner is about the only player showing the kind of energy and commitment needed in a state of crisis; Charles N’Zogbia, with his attacking instincts and flair, is about as far away from his natural position as he could be in the left-back role; Shay Given has about as much protection as a paper napkin, and Michael Owen must be wondering where on earth his next goal is coming from.

At Christmas, Newcastle were in ninth place in the Premier League, reasonably safe albeit unambitious. They have now slipped down several places into what can best be described as bordering on the dangerous. Six points above the club third from bottom, and therefore relegation candidates, should not pose that much of a threat to their continued existence (for the want of a better word) in the top flight of English football.

That is until you check out their final 11 matches and consider that they still need 12 more points to reach what is regarded as the “safety” watermark of 40 points.

How many points can they salvage from six away games at Liverpool, Birmingham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, West Ham and Everton? Three at most from three unlikely draws. So we’re down to five home games against Blackburn, Fulham, Reading, Sunderland and Chelsea. Fulham and Reading might yield six, the Tyne-Wear derby is always tricky and might secure a point, but both Blackburn and Chelsea would expect to win at St James’ Park.

So we’re looking at nine or 10 points at most – unless, of course, “The Messiah” can come up with one of the biggest miracles of all time.

Newcastle United have a wonderfully devoted army of supporters, but when thousands decide to leave the ground 15 minutes from time when they are losing 4-1 you can bet there’s a very good reason. Ashley and Keegan had better watch and listen . . . the Toon Army are letting their feet do the talking.