Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper is well aware that things will not come easy next season.
Despite being the most experienced gloveman at the club, 36-year old Harper knows that there will be plenty of competition from deputies Tim Krul and Fraser Forster when the next campaign begins.
"The manager, once we were safe, wanted to put Tim in and have a look at him, and I had no problem with that," he told the Shields Gazette.
"He did very well and I had no problem with him playing as I had to get my knee right and come back firing on all cylinders in pre-season because the two young lads behind me are champing at the bit and ready to take the jersey from me.
"Every season, it gets harder. Fraser did very well at Celtic, which is a massive club with similar crowds to here, and the expectations there will have done him the world of good.
"Tim ended the season in the team and played 20 Premier League games. He will want to add to that tally next year and get more games in.
"Every season, the manager has always said, 'nobody is No.1 - it's up to you to convince me in pre-season who deserves the shirt' and I'm sure it will be no different this time."
