Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper is open to a loan move away.

Harper, who turned 37 this month, has not played for Newcastle this season although he did make five appearances on loan at Championship club Brighton earlier in the season.

"I'd welcome the chance of a loan because I need to play to stay sharp," he said.

"I've got another year on my contract after this season and I've got no thoughts of retiring yet.

"Tim (Krul) has the potential to go on and have a fantastic career. The good thing about him is he willing to listen and learn.

"But I want to play, though whether anything can happen I don't know. It is a bit tight now. I got a call from Brighton earlier in the season. People might have been surprised, thinking I wanted to stay closer to home, but I had a really good time there under a fantastic young manager Gus Poyet."