Newcastle legend Steve Harper: We need more attacking options

Harper during his glory days as a Newcastle keeper

31 July 2013

Newcastle legend Steve Harper is desperate for manager Alan Pardew to sign a new striker, as negotiations for Darren Bent, Bafetimbi Gomis and Loic Remy continue.

The keeper, who last month left the club after 20 years of service, regards himself as much a fan of the club as when he was on the payroll. Harper is hoping that Pardew and new director of football Joe Kinnear can sign some prolific attacking options.

Pardew has made it clear that he is after at least one striker.

As the Bent rumours persist, Newcastle's other options lay with a possible loan switch for QPR's Remy. The St James' Park club had a bid for Gomis, of Lyon, rejected but it is too early to yet tell whether there is another in the pipeline.

Harper told the Press Association: "Obviously having spent 20 years here, I am a Newcastle fan and the same as everybody else, we keep an eye on it, watch it closely.

"There seem to be some positive noises about players coming in now. The likes of maybe Remy coming on loan would be a very good signing.

"As a fan, you want to see as many options as possible in a black and white shirt. I know that's what the manager wants, and hopefully he will get that."

Harper, who made 199 apopearance for Newcastle over 20 years will be relishing playing against his former club this season, as he turns out for recently promoted Hull.

The goalkeeper will be honoured at a charity match in recognition of his service to the club when a Newcastle XI featuring the likes of Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Faustino Asprilla, Rob Lee and Andy Cole face an AC Milan Glorie outfit led by Franco Baresi and including Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Andriy Shevchenko on September 11.

Referring to his former Newcastle team-mates, Harper said: "Sadly, it looks like I'm going to have to order a lot of extra-large shirts, so hopefully they will use the next six weeks to get themselves in as good a condition as possible."

Harper, who launched the charity game at St James' yesterday, said: "I'll have to have two days off being a Newcastle fan this season, as you can probably understand.

"This is a special place - just walking up the steps there again, the hairs on my arms stood up.

"It would be great to see a lot of people here on September 11, and it will be a very special night, hopefully, with a good crowd in.

"Then 10 days later if I run out in a Hull City shirt, once that whistle blows I'll get slaughtered every time I touch the ball, no doubt. But I wouldn't expect anything less."

All proceeds from the match will go to charity with the plan to share 85 per cent between the great North Children's Hospital, the Sir Bobby Foundation and the Newcastle United Foundation, with the remainder going to smaller local good causes.

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