Joe Kinnear believes Newcastle have more than enough quality to cope with the departure of Shay Given.
Boss says Toon are "blessed" for goalkeepers.
Joe Kinnear believes Newcastle have more than enough quality in the goalkeeping department to cope with the departure of Shay Given.
The veteran Magpies number one left the club for Manchester City after 12 years service in the January transfer window.
The transfer has opened up the door for Given's long-time understudy Steve Harper to make the number one position his own, and the Magpies boss is happy to give him his chance.
"When I came here, I said straight away the goalkeeping department was one of the areas in which we were blessed. He (Harper) is a very competent, good goalkeeper," Kinnear told the
Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
"We have Tim Krul and Fraser Foster as well, and it is probably the strongest area at the club."
"Harps has come in now, and he has an opportunity to stake his claim.
"He can guide the younger players and, with him being the longest-serving player at Newcastle, he knows the club inside out" he added.
Harper signed a new three-year extension to his contract in January and he will now look to finally establish himself as Newcastle's first choice goalkeeper.
