Harper seeks Euro positives despite Keegan's warning

2:03am Wednesday 7th May 2008

KEVIN Keegan might have warned Newcastle supporters not to expect Champions League football in the foreseeable future, but goalkeeper Steve Harper feels that "three or four" summer signings will enable the Magpies to return to European competition.

Keegan delivered a downbeat assessment of Newcastle's prospects in the immediate aftermath of Monday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, claiming the financial gulf separating the established big four from the rest of the Premier League was now too big for even a club of the Magpies' size and stature to bridge.

Harper does not dispute his manager's gloomy prognosis, but having represented Newcastle in both the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, the 33-year-old sees no reason why the club cannot experience continental competition again.

The Champions League may have effectively become a closed shop, but if Keegan is able to make three or four additions, Harper is confident a top-six finish, and probable UEFA Cup qualification, is an attainable target next season.

"We've got a big game on Sunday (against Everton), but once we get that out of the way, we've got three months to recruit some top players," said the Easington-born shot-stopper. "With Kevin in the place, and an owner who's not struggling for a few quid, hopefully we can attract some top players and get back up where we belong challenging for a European spot.

"The manager has gone on record saying that we've got a good quality squad, but just not enough strength in depth for the winter months, when there are a few players in the treatment room. You need a couple of players in every position and that's what we've got to try and get.

"Given the right backing in the summer, I'm confident we can get the three or four players we need to improve the squad and push us back into the top half of the table. Once we've done that, let's see how far up we can go. We know from the last time Kevin was here that once the place starts rolling, it tends to snowball from there."

Having pledged to take on the top four when he was unveiled as Sam Allardyce's successor in January, Keegan's weekend comments represented a staggering about-turn from a manager who has historically been noted for his optimism.

To a certain extent, his words merely echoed the thoughts of those supporters who have grudgingly accepted Newcastle face an almost impossible task if they are to regain their position as the primary challengers to Manchester United's Premier League crown. In their eight matches against the established big four this season, Newcastle have claimed just one point, a record that hardly suggests they are likely to challenge for a Champions League spot during the remaining three years of Keegan's contract.

However, the timing of his diatribe was still instructive. Keegan is understood to have held preliminary discussions with the Newcastle hierarchy over the size of the transfer kitty that is likely to be available to him this summer.

While owner Mike Ashley is prepared to offer considerable financial backing - last month's failed attempt to bring Luka Modric to St James' Park saw the club offer around £15m and commit to paying wages of more than £50,000-a-week - his opinion of what is possible from a capped budget is believed to be markedly different to what Keegan feels is attainable given the same sum.

A degree of tension exists and, to a certain extent, this week's events should perhaps be viewed as a jockeying for position ahead of more detailed financial discussions later in the summer. As Keegan himself acknowledged: "I didn't say I hadn't got any money to spend this summer, I said I haven't got enough to make up that gap to the top four."

Whether that changes significantly remains to be seen, but Harper is at least relieved that Newcastle will end the current campaign on a much more upbeat note than might have been the case two or three months ago.

A seven-game unbeaten run took them comfortably clear of the drop zone and confirmed the potential that exists within the current Newcastle squad. It ensured that the final home game of the season was followed by a warm ovation from the stands.

The good times might not exactly be back, but the acrimony and bitterness that characterised the final days of the Allardyce era certainly appear to have been banished.

"We had a good start to the season, a very disappointing middle that went for far too long and a positive finish," said Harper. "We had a rotten run, but you only get out of that through hard work. We had a change of manager and Kevin got the place back up again, which is what he does.

"The result against Chelsea wasn't what we wanted, but it's good to be finishing the season with a bit of momentum. When the black clouds take over this place, they can take a while to go. We needed to shift them, and Kevin has helped us do that."