Harper has been understudy to Shay Given for much of his St James's Park career, and the goalkeeper once went three seasons without playing in a Premier League game.

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But Easington-born Harper – who made a personal best 19 league starts this term, beating his previous record from the 1999-2000 campaign – believes his loyalty to the cause has finally paid off.

He has taken full advantage of his long-time rival's injury problems over the past 18 months, and when Given returns for pre-season training, he will know he has a fight on his hands for the goalkeeping jersey.

Harper said: "It's been a long while coming, though I played more games last year – 25 I think – with all the cup ties.

"In the last 18 months, I've played the best part of 45 games. It's all I ever wanted to do.

"There were two or three years when people forget about you. You're out of sight, and out of mind. But I've never shouted my mouth off, I just said I wanted to play week-in, week-out, and in the last 18 months I've really enjoyed doing that. Long may it continue."

Harper, 33, has just one year left on his Newcastle contract.