HERE'S a quiz question for you. Which Newcastle United player has won two trophies this season? The answer? Steve Harper. And he won them both this week.

Harper has spent his career stepping in and out of the shadows at St James' Park, but even by his own standards, this has been a difficult campaign.

Overlooked in favour of Tim Krul in pre-season, Newcastle's longest-serving player ceded his position as the club's number two when Rob Elliot arrived from Charlton Athletic at the end of last August.

A brief loan spell at Brighton provided his only taste of first-team football, and even that was soured by the early stages of a knee injury that is only just beginning to clear.

With just one more year left on his contract, Harper's playing days are coming to an end. But rather than bemoan his lot, the Easington-born shot-stopper is already turning his thoughts to the future.

Hence, while most of Newcastle's players were enjoying some down time earlier this week, Harper was on the sidelines at Bow School in Durham coaching a group of eight and nine-year-olds from Newcastle Boys' School.

Twenty-four hours later, he was at it again in Yarm. Two tournaments; two victories for the fledgling coach. Already, a lucrative new career beckons.

“I've been coaching every Monday and Thursday at Newcastle Boys' School and it's been great,” said Harper, who has also been doing some media work for Radio Five Live. “I've loved every minute of it. We've had a few matches and the year fours in particular are exceptional.

“We had the icing on the cake last week. We had a seven-a-side tournament in Durham and beat Sunderland 1-0 in the final with a golden goal from my son James. We got the headlines I'd waited 20 years for – 'Newcastle beat Sunderland with a goal from Harper'.

“Then we had another tournament for the under-nines in Yarm. We won that tournament as well, beating RGS (Royal Grammar School) in the final which the boys were really happy about.

“Unfortunately, the football term finished on Thursday and it's athletics next, so I don't think I've got much chance of being involved. I used to do the long jump when I was younger, but it wasn't very long.”

Clearly Harper is relishing his sudden change of direction, but there is a serious point to his efforts and as well as gaining practical experience, the 37-year-old is also working through a series of FA coaching qualifications.

“I've done my level two coaching and I'm now doing my level three, which will finish in August,” he said. “I'm doing my goalkeepers' B licence in June and my aim is that by the end of next season, when I'll be 38, I'll be fully qualified to step into coaching.”

Unsurprisingly, given almost two decades of service to Newcastle United, he would love to be taking that step at the club's Darsley Park academy.

Barring an unforeseen injury crisis, Harper will not be adding to his 240 first-team appearances next season. He will continue to train as hard as ever to ensure he is ready if required, but a player-coach role is something that clearly appeals and given the respect he is afforded by the club's younger players, an increased involvement on the training ground could have benefits for all concerned.

“If there was an opportunity to be a player-coach next season, it's something I'd like to do,” he said. “I've not taken any training sessions here as such, but when something comes up you just can't help yourself. I've been in the game for 20 years so I say little bits and bobs, it's just the nature of the beast. But right now, I'm very open minded about what I'm going to do next.”

That could mean another loan spell, and Harper was heavily linked with a January move to Hull City before his injury situation worsened. However, with his career winding down, he is reluctant to start trekking across the country.

“At my age, I don't want to be moving my family around,” he said. “Brighton was fine because it was an hour away on the plane, and 20 minutes away from the airport. If the right opportunity comes up to do something similar again, with the chance to train here and go and play somewhere else, that would suit me.”