But ... fortune was against him ... and Harper suffered a slight injury on the eve of the game.
Given went in goal and it was 'business as usual' for the man who has been tipped for a transfer to Arsenal this transfer window.
Harper Injury Could Put His Career On Hold ... Again!
Given: "If you reeled off their whole team, they are all big names in Europe.
"They have a fantastic team, and even the ones who came off the bench are well known international players.
"It's a nice boost for us. We know that pre-season games aren't the most important thing, but it's given us some confidence going to Manchester United next week.
"We had only won at Hartlepool before Valencia, but now we're building up to Sunday.
"The pre-season games are about fitness and we have to be ready to rock at Old Trafford.
"We're delighted to get a win over a good team.
"The winner was late in coming, but better late than never.
"We really worked hard in the game and deserved our win in the end."
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 4 (Duff 3, Guthrie)
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given (Forster 65), Edgar (Tozer 62), Enrique (Guthrie 46), Cacapa (Morris 71), Taylor, Duff, Milner, Butt, N'Zogbia, Martins (Ameobi 46), Smith.
DONCASTER 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper (Krul 57), Taylor, Bassong, Cacapa (Edgar 64), Enrique, Geremi (Tozer 78), Guthrie, N'Zogbia, Duff, Ameobi, Smith.
HERTHA BERLIN 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper (Krul, 63); Geremi, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia; Milner, Guthrie, Butt, Gutierrez (Enrique, 70); Ameobi (Duff, 59), Smith.
REAL MALLORCA 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper (Forster 57), Taylor, Bassong, Cacapa, Enrique, Geremi, Guthrie (Donaldson 70), Edgar, Duff, Smith, Milner
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 PSV EINDHOVEN 2 (Taylor,Guthrie)
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given, Beye (Edgar 58), Taylor, Cacapa. Enrique, Duff, Guthrie, Butt (Bassong 90), Geremi (Donaldson 58), Gutierrez, Milner (Danquah 90).
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 VALENCIA 1 (Duff, Milner)
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given, Beye (Bassong 85) N'Zogbia, Cacapa (Edgar 85), Taylor, Milner, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Butt, Duff, Martins (Smith 63).