Evergreen Harper plans to be back for the Tigers

Veteran Hull City goalkeeper Steve Harper is “open-minded” about his future.
Hull City goalkeeper Steve HarperHull City goalkeeper Steve Harper
Hull City goalkeeper Steve Harper

The 39-year-old is currently injured after struggling to fully recover from a bicep problem but has not given up hope of returning to the first team.

The former Newcastle stopper managed 19 matches in his maiden season at the KC Stadium and has made another four this term following No 1 Allan McGregor’s own fitness issues.

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He is understood to have pondered retirement in the summer and is thought to be keen on management, but is currently focused on helping the Tigers before deciding what to do next year.

“I’m 40 in March and while I don’t feel it, I realise nothing lasts for life,” he said. “I’m really open-minded about what I do next.

“Right now, my one concern is to get back on the field and play as many matches as I can for Hull.

“I hate being injured and at my age I can’t afford to be, so I rushed back, played against Burnley and aggravated my bicep and shoulder again. But I’ll return very shortly and then there is half a season still to go.”

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Chesterfield officials will attend a personal hearing at Wembley next week regarding their Football Association charge for fielding an ineligible player in the second round of the FA Cup.

The Spireites’ place in the third round of the competition has been cast into doubt after they fielded on-loan Wolves defender Georg Margreitter in their 1-0 win over MK Dons at the weekend, despite allegations they had not received written permission from his parent club to do so.

The FA announced it had charged the League One club over the incident, hours before Chesterfield discovered they face a trip to either Scunthorpe or non-league Worcester in the third round.

Chesterfield say they will meet with the governing body next Monday.

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Responding to news of the charge on Monday, the club’s chief executive Chris Turner said: “We notified The FA as soon as it came to our attention that the necessary written permission from Wolverhampton Wanderers to allow Georg Margreitter to play in the match had not been received.

“We had a verbal agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers to play Georg but, unfortunately, we did not ensure that the consent was received in writing.

“We will, of course, provide The FA with our full co-operation as they investigate the matter.”