Harper extends magpies contract

Sir Bobby Robson has won his fight to keep another key member of his squad at St James’ Park after goalkeeper Steve Harper signed a new five-year deal.

The 27-year-old Easington-born player suffered the misfortune of sitting on the bench for no fewer than 50 of the club’s 53 games last season, playing only in the Worthington Cup ties against Brentford, Barnsley and Ipswich as number one Shay Given produced perhaps the best form of his career to date.

Robson made Given his first-choice goalkeeper after assessing the strengths of both he and Harper following his appointment in September 1999, but admits there is not a great deal to choose between them, and that Harper has been unfortunate to have spent so much time sitting on the sidelines.

However, he believes he has one of the best duos in the Premiership, and would have no qualms about throwing his deputy in at the deep end if he needed to.

Harper, a qualified referee, signed a new four-year deal in June last year, but amid speculation that his future could lie away from Tyneside with several clubs ready to offer him first-team football, United have moved to tie him up on an improved contract until the end of the 2006-07 season.

"Although there has been reported interest from a number of clubs in me, I have never wanted to play for any club other than Newcastle United," he said today.

"My heart has always been with this club and I wouldn’t want to be playing anywhere else.

"The buzz at St James’ Park is incredible at the moment and I’m very happy to have signed the new deal."

Chairman Freddy Shepherd added: "We are delighted another local lad has agreed a new contract with the club and very happy that Steve is showing his faith in the way things are going at St James’ Park."

Harper joined Newcastle from non-league Seaham Red Star in 1993 but had to wait until November 1998 for his senior debut when he replaced Given at half-time in a Premiership game against Wimbledon.

He briefly established himself as number one under Ruud Gullit and picked up a losers’ medal in the 1999 FA Cup final against treble winners Manchester United.

The Dutchman stuck with him for the first two games of the 1999-2000 season, but after successive defeats by Aston Villa and Tottenham and Given’s recovery from injury, Gullit stunned Harper by paying NAC Breda £750,000 for John Karelse.

Karelse conceded seven goals in his first two games as Gullit’s reign drew to a close, and after loan signing Tommy Wright returned to his former club to hold the fort as Harper too fought for fitness, he regained his place in the side and stayed there until a training ground stumble the day before an FA Cup quarter-final trip to Tranmere earned Given a reprieve.

The Irishman has been in the driving seat virtually ever since, and although that has proved a source of frustration to his under-study, his commitment has ever been called into question.

United head into their Champions League qualifier first leg against NK Zeljeznicar in Sarajevo on Wednesday night knowing success there will pave the way for a thrilling but long season in which every member of the squad could be called upon at some point.

Harper may yet get his big chance to remind the Tyneside public - who greeted him like a long-lost friend when he emerged as a second-half substitute against Barcelona on Wednesday night - of exactly what he can do.