Under former England, Fulham and Newcastle boss Keegan they have become the great entertainers of English football.

Asked how City had become such a potent force, Keegan said: ‘‘I don’t really know to be honest.

‘‘We train in a certain way and we believe in certain things. Everything we do in training is with a football.

‘‘The lads never run one yard without a football. If you can keep it during a game, it makes your job a lot easier.

‘‘Everything we do is about possession, creativity and encouraging the players to go out there and express themselves.

‘‘We’ve made a commitment to something and that’s football. We don’t give the ball away too much.

‘‘If we do it is because we are trying to make something happen. We don’t go out to stop teams playing, we go out to cause them problems.

‘‘You can’t help but enjoy it when you see your team score 100 goals and we’ve got a nice blend at the moment.’’

Keegan also joins in the training but added: ‘‘It’s just five minutes and only if I have got Ali Benarbia and Eyal Berkovic in my side.’’

City need to pick up 17 points from their last 10 games to make sure of automatic promotion after losing just one of their last 14 in the league.

Keegan said: ‘‘Everyone is saying we are good enough for the Premiership and think we are. But we are not there yet and you always have that little doubt.

‘‘I would like to win the championship with this team because I think we are the best side in this division.

‘‘We’ve got a decent bench now and that’s what is driving the players on. They do enjoy playing football. As long as they keep working hard and believing, we can get our rewards.’’

Keeper Nicky Weaver is facing a cartilage operation which could rule him out of the promotion run-in.

Weaver will be examined by the club’s medical staff today after picking up the injury last night.

Keegan said: ‘‘If it is serious then I will have to go and get a keeper on loan this week. Nicky did it during the game when he fell over, funnily enough.’’