Newcastle are hopeful Steve Harper will thaw out in time for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final after removing the veteran goalkeeper from his cryogenic chamber.
Harper, a 20-year servant to the club, underwent cryogenic freezing at an experimental facility in the North East upon his retirement in 2016.
The 47-year-old stopper agreed to be frozen and used by Newcastle in goalkeeping emergencies like the one they’re facing on the eve of this weekend’s Wembley showdown with Manchester United.
Manager Eddie Howe requested the call be made to have Harper thawed following Nick Pope’s red card against Liverpool which left the Geordie outfit with only last-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius available for selection.
The St James’ outfit are also without the services of cup-tied Martin Dubravka and on-loan Karl Darlow for the biggest game in their 1-year history.
“It’s a race against the clock to have Steve defrosted in time for Sunday,” Howe told Paddy Power News.
“I checked on him this morning and he’s still a bit frozen in the middle.
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“If he hasn’t thawed by Wednesday, we’re going to put him in the sauna which will hopefully speed the process up a little.”
When asked what would happen in the event Harper was still frozen, the Magpies boss added: “I’m trying to get hold of Shaka Hislop.
“I’ve sent him a DM on Instagram, but he hasn’t seen it yet.
“Shay Given said he’d get back to me but he usually plays Grand Theft Auto with Nikos Dabizas and Temuri Ketsbaia on Sundays.
“Failing that, we’ll probably just go fly-goalie on the day. F**k it.”
Meanwhile, Karius told fans he was ready for the final in an Insta video which showed the 29-year-old buttering up his goalie gloves.
The keeper applied a generous layer of spread to each glove before delivering a message to the Geordie faithful.
“The Toon Army are in safe hands,” said the former Liverpool No.1 before dropping the packet on the ground.
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