Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper has begun taking his coaching badges.

Harper hopes to be fully qualified by the end of next season.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "As you get older you start to look at it.

"I'm on a goalkeeper coaching course in June and I finish my UEFA B Licence in August in Gosforth.

"When you start playing less you have to start looking at coaching and the aim is to be a fully-qualified coach by the end of next season."