Steve Harper: "It was very disappointing how he was sold and we didn't have the opportunity to replace him.
"But hopefully the money will be wisely spent and it will prove a good bit of business for us - £35million is an incredible amount of money and time will tell.
"He had an unbelievable 2010. I've known him since he was 6ft 3in. We knew there was a player waiting to develop who could become a real handful.
"Great lad, keen, works hard on the training ground, and he was settling down under Kevin Nolan.
"He has a fantastic opportunity at Liverpool and a manager who will nurture and help him, as (former Newcastle boss) Kenny Dalglish did with a young Alan Shearer."
