Harper eyes December return

Harper: Recovery on track

Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper insists he remains on target to make his comeback from injury in December.

Harper has been on the sidelines since September following shoulder surgery after sustaining the problem in their 1-0 win at Everton.

The 35-year-old actually tweaked the injury when celebrating Newcastle's fourth goal in their 5-1 success over Sunderland in last weekend's Tyne-Wear derby.

However, Harper's recovery remains on track and he hopes to be given the all-clear from his surgeon in the coming weeks that will see him return to training inside a month.

Tweak

"I hurt myself celebrating the fourth goal when Shola (Ameobi) volleyed it in," he conceded. "While everyone else was jumping around I was nearly crying. But I'll gladly hurt my arm celebrating that.

"I feel good. I'm on target for the timescale I was set. I've got a full range of movement now so I've just got to work on the strength and hopefully I'll be diving around again in three weeks.

"I see the surgeon again for my eight-week check and hopefully he will give me the green light.

"It's just getting the confidence and strength in it to come back in December."