Goalkeeper Harper began the campaign as the man in possession with Shay Given recovering from injury, and has ended it in the same vein as the Irishman works his way back to full fitness after undergoing hernia surgery.

He has played a key role in the revival sparked by manager Kevin Keegan during the closing weeks of the season, starting the last 10 matches, and he is looking to wring every last minute out of a season which has been one of his busiest to date.

Harper said: "It was great to start the season. I had a good run, then obviously a long run over the winter where I was out of the side.

"But to come back in at a time when we have picked up is good. I have enjoyed it.

"Obviously, it was disappointing that the run ended (against Chelsea), but for once I will have started a season and unless the manager plays Fraser (Forster), I will have finished a season."

Harper's caution is understandable - he once dubbed Given 'Lazarus' for his ability to bounce back from injury and deny his understudy the chance to establish himself.

bounce back

However, the Irishman's fitness woes this season have made him a central character once again for Keegan - the man who signed him from local league club Seaham Red Star in July 1993 - the latest manager to acknowledge the Magpies' strength in depth in that department.

Harper kept successive clean sheets against Reading, Portsmouth and Sunderland as Newcastle put together a seven-match unbeaten run to ease themselves clear of the battle for Barclays Premier League safety.

That sequence came to an end on Monday when Chelsea left St James' with a 2-0 win which took the title race to the final day of the campaign.

The focus for the Magpies will be on a positive result at Goodison Park - a point against opponents Everton would deny the manager a share of the club's record low Premier League points total of 43 - and the summer recruitment drive which will follow.

Harper said: "The last time we lost, we bounced back with a seven-game unbeaten run and we will be looking to bounce back at Everton.

"Obviously, they need a point to get that fifth spot and they are going to come at us all guns blazing.

"But the season is not finished until Sunday night and we will go to Everton looking to get a result."