Departing keeper Steve Harper is confident Newcastle United will shrug off a disappointing campaign and kick-on again next season. "The important thing is lessons have been learned across the board from top to bottom," Harper told BBC Newcastle.

"The owner [Mike Ashley] and the chief executive [Derek Llambias] came into the training ground and said as much themselves.

"It's good to know those lessons have been learned and will be taken on board by everybody.

"Hopefully we can build this club back up into the top half and pushing towards European football."