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Steve Harper will bring down the curtain on his Newcastle United career after 20 years at the end of the season.

The long-serving goalkeeper has not been offered a new deal by United and will leave the club’s Benton base one final time in May.

Without a shadow of doubt Harper’s emotional exit from St James’ Park will mean it is the end of an era, and Geordie fans will get their chance to say farewell in the last home game of the season against Arsenal to see off the ONLY player at the club to have played a part in every single one of United’s Premier League campaigns since 1993.

However, Harper, at 38, WILL play on again next season.

And while there is no contract offer or coaching role on offer with United after two decades of service, the Easington-born stopper is understood to have had interest from several Championship sides already and is keen to take on a player-coach role next term.

Harper – who arrived at Newcastle as a teenager from Seaham Red Star in 1992 – told the Chronicle: “It has been a privilege to be a professional at such a fantastic football club.

“If you had said to me as a raw kid from Seaham I’d be at the club for 20 years as a professional, I would have said you were mad.

“People describe the club as an emotional roller-coaster and it certainly has been. I’ve had some fantastic times here.

“There have been some difficult times as well, but I have enjoyed it all.”

Harper is already well under way with his coaching badges and will continue his studies over the summer.

The Toon keeper though is fit and raring to play for the rest of the current campaign.

With Tim Krul injured for another fortnight, Harper is currently being utilised in a bench role with the Magpies – but knows he is only a heartbeat away from the action if Rob Elliot is injured.

There is also the possibility of Harper being loaned out at the end of the month with the loan window deadline for March fast approaching.

Harper spent time on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion last season and was wanted by Birmingham City in a player- coach capacity last July under former United team-mate Lee Clark.

Yet he was told at the start of the season he still had a part to play at United.

He played several games in pre-season and has had seven outings for the club this term before being hit with knee problems.

Harper has made 197 first- team appearances for Newcastle so far.