Alan Pardew: “It’s a big chance for Tim (Krul).
“I keep getting linked with goalies but I’m not going to bring one in (this summer) – not a senior one anyway. Steve, Tim and Fraser (Forster) are all going to be vying for that jersey and Tim’s got an early opportunity to stake his claim. He did a good job in the first game.
“It’s fair to say we’ll be cautious with Steve when we’re bringing him back.
“Harps isn’t right and we’ll have to review him over the next couple of weeks.
“It’s not that he’s out for the rest of the season but it might be he needs a small operation to sort his little problem out. It’s not a major problem and we’ll weigh it up in the next couple of weeks.”
With Harper suggesting next season could be his last, Pardew is looking to the future.
Hexham-born Forster is on a season-long loan at Scottish Premier League side Celtic and many suggest he could be number one at Newcastle next season.
Forster has spent the last two years at other clubs – Norwich City, Bristol Rovers and the Bhoys – while Krul had earlier spells at Carlisle United and Falkirk.