Harper signs Toon deal, Given going?

Steve Harper's ending of speculation he is set to leave Newcastle by signing a three-year contract extension with the club has heightened the doubts around Shay Given's future at St James' Park.

Goalkeeper Harper has been linked with a move away from St James' Park during the transfer window with Tottenham apparently keen on his services.

But with Shay Given having indicated his desire to leave, with Manchester City most heavily linked with his signature, Newcastle have moved to keep hold of veteran Harper, who has played just 111 times for the Magpies since joining in 1993.

Weekend reports had Newcastle targetting David James as the man to replace Given but at 38, the Portsmouth keeper looked a short-term choice. Harper, the sole veteran of the original Kevin Keegan era at Newcastle, was preferred to close pal Given for the 1999 FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester United.

"I'm a north-east lad and Newcastle United has always been a huge part of my life and I'm delighted that will continue," he told the club's official website.

"At the end of this contract I have been at Newcastle for 19 seasons which is more than half my life so that shows how much this club has always meant to me.

"I'm delighted it's sorted and now I can concentrate on doing what I have always done which is working hard in training and push my claims for regular first-team football."