Albion have signed veteran Newcastle keeper Steve Harper on a month's loan.

The 36-year-old is expected to make his debut against West Ham at The Amex tonight at the expense of Casper Ankergren and alongside the Seagulls' other Premier League loan capture Gonzalo Jara Reyes from West Brom.

If it goes well then Harper could stay for the rest of the season.

Albion boss Gus Poyet revealed Ankergren's place was under threat before he kept a clean sheet in the last home game against Hull.

The Dane then allowed a 30-year shot from Jay Simpson through his hands for Millwall's later equaliser at The Denlast Tuesday.

Ankergren's understudy Peter Brezovan has made goal-costing mistakes in his most recent first team outings at Stoke in the FA Cup in January and against Spurs in a pre-season friendly, so Poyet has drafted in 36-year-old Harper.

He has lost the No. 1 spot at Newcastle to Tim Krul and is now third choice following the arrival of Rob Elliot from Charlton.

Newcastle chief Alan Pardew said: "Harps is keen to play. It is a real coup for Brighton. Steve is unfortunate to have Tim come through the way he has."

Harper makes his debut tonight against former Newcastle team-mate Kevin Nolan after the midfielder's summer move to West Ham.

He will be linking up at The Amex with fellow Toon loan signing Kazenga LuaLua, who is in contention for a place on the Albion bench.

Harper's 16-year career at Newcastle has included loan stints at Bradford City, Gateshead, Stockport County, Hartlepool and Huddersfield.

The last of the 6ft 2ins custodian's 190 appearances for them in the Premier League and Championship came in a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa towards the end of last season.