Newcastle United legend Steve Harper has ruled out rejoining the club to replace the injured Tim Krul.

Krul, who was injured on international duty for Holland on the weekend, looks set to miss the remainder of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Harper, who was at the north east club for 20 years, has said that he won't be able to join Newcastle as a replacement for Krul as Toon boss Steve McClaren won't be allowed to add him to his squad.

"I'm keeping myself fit but it is irrelevant sadly as they have a 25-man squad which they can't add to but I've had a load of phone calls over the summer," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

Harper did, however, wish former colleague Krul well on his path to recovery saying: "It is an awful injury - people say that breaks are better than cruciate injuries and he has got to write off the rest of the season and concentrate on getting himself right.

"He won't be a good patient, knowing him. He'll be like a bear with a sore head in and around the training ground and medical room, but I wish him a speedy and full recovery."