Newcastle United academy boss Ben Dawson has explained the coaching return of Steve Harper.

Harper's new role will mean that there is a daily dialogue between Dawson and the former goalkeeper with the Easington-born coach then feeding information back to Steve Bruce and his back-room team.

Dawson told the Evening Chronicle: "It's a catch 22 having one site or split sites.

"When we were up at the first team base you always took it for granted that people communicated.

"But communication is a little better now we are out of sight.

"When it's like that you have to (communicate).

"So having that designated person who you can have that conversation with about players.

"You can talk about if anybody is coming down to the Academy or going in the other direction.

"It means the first team squad can focus on the game on a weekend."