English Premier League:Mike Ashley, Newcastle United's owner, today returns from a business trip to Hong Kong and will immediately set about filling the club's managerial vacancy.

Last night officials at Blackburn Rovers were still waiting for an official approach to speak to Mark Hughes, and they fully expected to hear from Newcastle shortly. Having failed to land the first choice, Harry Redknapp, last weekend, it is believed Ashley wants to take a fuller role in the recruitment process.

Another interested party returning from holiday today is Alan Shearer, who flies in from Barbados. Despite being told by Newcastle chairman Chris Mort last Thursday that he would not be considered for the number one role at St James' Park, there has been considerable local enthusiasm for a dream ticket of the former England and Newcastle strikers Kevin Keegan and Shearer.

Keegan yesterday refused to rule himself out of the running, saying, "I would not rule it in and I would not rule it out".

But club sources are sceptical as to his chances.

There is some concern as to Newcastle's defensive performance, exacerbated by the 6-0 thrashing at Old Trafford on Saturday which featured some terrible decision-making by the back four. Keegan has never been noted for his defensive organisation.

Ashley, who watches many matches with the fans, is well aware of the ordinary man's preferences and could be swayed by the romantic notion, but at present he is expected to be better persuaded by the colder logic of appointing Hughes.

The Welshman is understood to be strongly tempted by the Newcastle job and is already believed to have been sounded out by an intermediary. Indeed it seems Ashley considered making the Blackburn manager his first choice before opting for Redknapp, who rebuffed Newcastle on Saturday.

Blackburn chairman John Williams, who categorically denied that he had discussed a potential compensation package with Newcastle for the manager, said: "We have not received any approach from Newcastle United for Mark Hughes. He is doing a great job here and we obviously want to keep him. We are chasing a Champions League place, so why would he want to leave?"

While Newcastle have been led to believe Hughes would say "yes", they also claim to have received calls from representatives of several managers working both in the Premier League and abroad.