Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper ready to fight for number one spot

Steve Harper of Newcastle (Getty Images)

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Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper insists he is ready to fight for his place in the team in the wake of competition from Tim Krul and Fraser Forster.

The 36-year-old was back-up to Shay Given for many years at St James’ Park but was given his chance as the club’s first choice keeper when the Irishman moved to Manchester City.

Injury to Harper last season gave Krul, 23, the opportunity to establish himself in the team, and Forster returned from a loan spell at Celtic to fight for regular football on Tyneside.

Harper is fully aware that he needs to fight hard for his place in the team during preseason.

He told the Shields Gazette: “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 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.

“Every season, the managers always said, ‘Nobody is number one – 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.”