With Newcastle mainstay Shay Given having moved to Manchester City, Toon boss Joe Kinnear is confident Steve Harper is an adequate goalkeeping replacement. "Steve is probably one of the top five English goalkeepers," Kinnear told The Newcastle Chronicle.

"When I came here, I said straight away the goalkeeping department was one of the areas in which we were blessed. We have Tim Krul and Fraser Forster as well, and it is probably the strongest area at the club.

"Harps has come in now, and he has an opportunity to stake his claim. He is a very competent, good goalkeeper."

Kinnear highlights Harper's experience as a real positive for the relegation threatened club.

"Harps will be in the frame in the final 14 games," the manager added.

"We are lucky to have him and not only is he a great keeper, but he also has bags of experience. We saw that at Manchester City when he took the armband from Michael Owen.

"He can guide the younger players and, with him being the longest-serving player at Newcastle, he knows the club inside out."