Fraser Forster loan on ice after Steve Harper injury scare

Jul 20 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

FRASER Forster’s proposed loan move to Burnley has been put on ice after a goalkeeping injury scare for Newcastle United.

The Clarets announced last week they had agreed to take Hexham-born Forster on a season-long loan.

Newcastle were unhappy at the Lancashire club jumping the gun, and were waiting to be convinced the 22-year-old would start the season as number one at Turf Moor.

Now an injury to Steve Harper appears to have given them cause to pull the plug on the proposed loan, at least for now.

“It’s no secret that we are looking to bring in another goalkeeper and I think most people are aware Fraser Forster was our target,” said Burnley’s Wallsend-born manager Brian Laws.

“However, unfortunately due to an injury at Newcastle, it’s not possible to move that on at the moment.

“We understand Newcastle’s predicament and they can’t let Fraser leave until they have assessed that situation.

“We are waiting to see how that develops but clearly we may have to look at alter-natives to strengthen our goalkeeping area with the new season less than three weeks away.”

Chris Hughton was not commenting when asked by The Journal about the fitness of his goalkeepers yesterday. Harper was flexing his calf during Saturday’s 3-0 win at Carlisle United, Newcastle’s first pre-season game this summer.

He was replaced by Tim Krul at half-time, but so were the other ten players who started for the Magpies. Forster was not in the squad.

With no further information forthcoming, the injury could be nothing

more than a routine strain but it has given Newcastle an opportunity to take stock.

In Krul and Forster they have two highly-rated young goalkeepers. The intention is for one to be loaned out in the coming season, and the other to cover for Harper.