Harper says he is putting club duty before an international call-up in his list of priorities ... simply because his days of international glory have long past.
His years of warming the bench as Shay Given's understudy may show his love for Newcastle United ... but it has, without doubt, cost him international glory.
Frank Fielding and Scott Loach have been promoted to the senior squad instead of Harper, but let's be honest ... did we seriously expect anything else?
Steve Harper: “My aim is to play as well as I can week in and week out and if I do well and the team does well anything else is a bonus.
“It’s a friendly for England so it’s a fantastic opportunity to get the two young lads in and involved, working with the coaches.
“I’ve played against Scott Loach and he’s a fine young goalkeeper. It’s a fantastic opportunity for him.
“I know that him and Frank Fielding are in the system and they seem to have this system where they promote from within. It’s a great opportunity for them.”