Newcastle players in bar BRAWL with friends of Steve Harper’s son; facial injuries

Several Newcastle United players got involved in a bar BRAWL with the friends of Steve Harper’s son; some left with facial injuries.

The Premier League outfit are looking into the incident with trouble flaring up during a team’s night out in the city centre last week.

Reports state that punches were thrown between players and another group of revellers, that included James Harper, son of Steve.

The Daily Mail understand James wasn’t one of the aggressors and ended up making sure that some of the injured parties were alright. It is thought summer signing Charlie Wiggett (coming in from Chelsea), was among those left with a facial injury.

Police wasn’t called to the scene but Newcastle launched an immediate investigation when Harper was made aware of the fight, which happened after the players had hired a table at Tup Tup Palace, a club known to have appeared in reality TV show Geordie Shore.

The former Magpies goalkeeper spoke to those involved but has since stepped back because of an obvious conflict of interest, especially considering his son’s presence and knows the boys with whom his own players were scrapping. Formal disciplinary action is being taken against several players.

As one source said: ‘Only at Newcastle United could this happen. There was some bad blood between one of the players and one of James’ friends. They already knew each other.

‘A player was being gobby and it then turned ugly. Another player steamed in and has hurt a lad. But how stupid can you be, getting into a fight with the friends of the academy manager’s son?

‘Steve has a big job on his hands sorting that place out, it’s been a mess for years.’

Harper, who made 199 appearances during 20 seasons at St James’ Park, took over as academy chief earlier this year when Joe Joyce departed.

Sportsmail revealed then that Joyce had been stood down after his partner raised a dispute with the club over the treatment of their son, Sam, a former youth-team player.

Joyce brought a complaint against Newcastle after the reoccurrence of an injury suffered while Sam was playing for the club. She also raised an issue over her son’s academic education while in the academy.

Harper chose to step away from Steve Bruce’s first-team staff to take on the academy position and, some sources say while he has made a positive impact, he has endured a troubled start.

The Under-23s are currently without a manager after Chris Hogg joined Milton Keynes Dons as assistant boss last month and Gary Caldwell, appointed on an interim basis, then spent just three weeks in the role.

It is thought the Magpies will now hold a trial period where coaches have a chance to impress during a training session with academy players.

Twitter users reacted after seeing Newcastle players in a bar BRAWL with friends of Steve Harper’s son…

What a circus eh. They can’t handle a drink https://t.co/I1cG3pE0dI

— Callum Irving (@NUFCIrving1010) September 14, 2021

@foolsndermoney: Cannot see how some fans have now turned on Steve Harper? Proper loyal servant to club and decent guy too. Get a grip.

@neilTheMagpie: What a mess.

@BobbyGoa: Turning into basket case of a club, back to the dark ages when Kinnear first got appointed and turned it into a circus show. And on another note Craig gets to keep his seat at the Gallowgate end for test of the season 😁

@6SECONDSREF: #NUFC are effectively becoming a #grassroots football team.

@_lewisnufc_: Never a dull moment is there at this circus

@nufcrichys: ffs man this club just gets better and better 😂

@chriskelly1985: Trial periods for coach. Or they could appoint a proper one like other clubs? How long before they ask someone’s dad to take training, run the line and give lifts? Shambles of a club from top to bottom

@oilergirl2: Relegation may be a blessing in disguise. #NUFC would lose enough value that the club could be purchased with funds from the http://1892pledge.co.uk & the big mess the club has turned into could be cleaned up.

@DeKuip02: Ashley won’t sell #nufc in the championship. He’ll only sell at top value. He models relegation into his PL gamble every season. It’s cheaper for him to get relegated and pay to get out in the first season down than it is to invest while in the premiership.

@davidpick1987: WHOS THE MOLE?!

@NCL1892_: Alex Bruce 😂