Cox, who managed Newcastle from 1980-84 and was assistant to Keegan at St James' Park in 1993, will return to St James' Park this week.
The Entertainers Part 2!
Cox: "They will certainly be worth watching and we'll do all we possibly can to move them up the table.
"I sincerely hope that we're in there among those four, five and six at the top of the league and playing in a manner that will be appreciated by the supporters.
"He'll be wanting to be in the top six and pressing those four in two seasons and probably looking at trying to get among the UEFA places this season if it's at all possible.
"I'm surprised at his return to football but I'm not surprised at his return to Newcastle.
"It was the only place he would have come back to.
"He feels he wants to give back to the public what they gave to him as a player and manager.
"He's obviously more experienced as a person and that always stands you in good stead."