Steve Harper Should Be In The England Squad

The 34-year-old, possibly struggled a little initially when Shay first left back in January, but when you haven't been first choice for almost your entire career you are bound to take a bit of time to adjust.

In some respects it's a shame Harper lacked ambition. He should have left Newcastle United years ago and, if he had, he probably would have picked up at least a couple of England caps by now.

That he didn't owes as much to living in a comfort zone as it does to loyalty. Harper likes the North East a little too much and he was too happy to play second fiddle.

Of course, he was better paid than any other back up goalkeeper in the top flight, but he realises himself he should have moved on when he was in his late 20s.

The fact remains, if David James remains the best we have in the country - as error prone as he is - then we really are struggling in that position.

Paul Robinson was first choice at the last World Cup and you would have been hard pressed to find a defender in that squad who was confident in his ability behind them, particularly when it came to dealing with crosses.

If Harper had been playing regular first team football in 2005/6 surely he would have made that England squad, but an England manager can't select a goalkeeper who isn't first choice at his club. Oh hang on a minute, yes he can if he plays for Manchester United as we have seen with Ben Foster.

Harper has been in superb form this season and Hughton was right to argue Newcastle would not be top of the Championship without him. He has responded well to the challenge from the young prospect Tim Krul and the 12 clean sheets the Magpies have secured already this season are testimony to his excellence between the posts.

I'm hard pressed to remember a game when he hasn't had to make at least one quality save and even when he isn't busy in terms of the number of shots he has to save, his powers of concentration - which develop with experience - have been impeccable.

I doubt very much Fabio Capello will select him for a squad, but wouldn't it be fantastic if he does. They say every World Cup squad has a surprise in it so why not Harper?

It doesn't matter if he is playing in the Championship if Foster isn't even playing on the bench and on curret form, I know who I'd rather have with me in South Africa.