Harper is Newcastle's longest-serving player

Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has praised the club's fans for sticking by the players.

The Magpies took 2,000 fans to Huddersfield on Tuesday, and almost double that were at Darlington three days earlier.

Harper says despite their recent troubles on and off the field, United fans will never desert their club.

"I never doubted the Geordies for a second. They will follow us to the ends of the earth," Harper said.

"The Geordies are different class, you saw that at Huddersfield and at Darlington on Saturday and they'll be there in their thousands at Leyton Orient on Saturday," he said.

"I think they'll love going to away grounds they haven't been to for a while this year but hopefully it's just for one season.

The spirit in the camp is good, everybody is looking after each other and digging in Steve Harper

"They are fantastic and we don't take them for granted at all."

With just over two weeks until the new Championship season, the Magpies remain up for sale and without a permanent manager.

But despite the uncertainty surrounding the club, Harper, who will wear the number one jersey next season, says the players are just concerned with preparing for the opening game of the season at West Brom.

"It's important we keep winning in friendlies until 8 August - we've got a very tough first game and we're just building towards that," he said.

"The spirit in the camp is good, everybody is looking after each other and digging in. The boys are working hard.

"It's going to be tough in the Championship, there are a lot of big teams in there and we've got some tough fixtures to start.

"But you can see the team spirit from these games and we're on a winning run - long may it continue."

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