The Northern Ireland international Keith will be best remembered on Tyneside as the player who signing sent Andy Cole to Manchester United.
"The deal wouldn't have gone through if I couldn't sign Gillespie" said Kevin Keegan, and he went on to make 146 appearances for Newcastle between 1995/99 scoring 14 goals.
The Sheffield United winger believes it is vital they achieve back-to-back wins against traditional whipping boys San Marino to keep their hopes alive.
"The deal wouldn't have gone through if I couldn't sign Gillespie" said Kevin Keegan, and he went on to make 146 appearances for Newcastle between 1995/99 scoring 14 goals.
The Sheffield United winger believes it is vital they achieve back-to-back wins against traditional whipping boys San Marino to keep their hopes alive.Gillespie: "We are still playing good football like we did in the last qualifying campaign (Euro 2008).
"This is a group where everybody is going to beat everybody so we still have to believe we have a chance.
"We've got San Marino home and away so we need to be taking six points from them.
"Nobody would have thought the Czechs would have one point from two games so it's going to be one of those groups. We are still there, we're still fighting."