The goalkeeper will be honoured for 20 years of service at St James’ Park on Wednesday.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has urged owner Mike Ashley to make a bigger effort to invest in the team.
Harper spent 20 years at St James’ Park and was the Magpies’ longest-serving player until he joined Premier League newcomers Hull City Tigers on a free transfer in July after being released from his contract.
The 38-year-old will be honoured with a testimonial by Newcastle on Wednesday night and has offered a few words of advice to Ashley following another turbulent summer, suggesting he start to engage with the club’s supporters on a regular basis.
“I think their loyalty has been tested far too often in recent years. It’s one of the great clubs but it should be competing amongst the very best in Europe,” he told the Telegraph.
“It’s getting harder and harder to break on to the top table and opportunities have been missed. We finished fifth a couple of years ago but, to sustain that, you need investment in the team.
“If I had a message to Mike Ashley it would be to engage with the fans, to repair that relationship. It’s not totally broken but it doesn’t just need a plaster on it, it needs to be fixed.”
Harper’s Newcastle side will take on an AC Milan legends team at St James’.
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