Harper, 35, underwent surgery to repair his damaged shoulder ligament yesterday and is unlikely to play again until December.

However, Hughton has decided not to seek an emergency replacement, in the short term at least, and will instead rely on 22-year-old Dutchman Krul and Swedish understudy Ole Soderberg.

Krul made his senior debut for the club as a 19-year-old in a UEFA Cup tie against Palermo in Sicily in November 2006, and turned in a stunning individual display as the Magpies won 1-0, although chances since have been rare.

However, his manager is confident he has got what it will take to provide more than adequate cover during Harper's enforced absence.

Hughton said: "That confidence has really been built on not just the fact that when he has come in, he has done very well, but on what we have seen here from him over the period of time he has been here.

"That's the biggest aspect because we haven't seen him so much as regards the first team on the football pitch.

"But we are very confident in his ability and we are quite sure he will cope very well."

Krul started Wednesday night's remarkable 4-3 Carling Cup victory at Chelsea and will continue in the Barclays Premier League against Stoke at St James' Park on Sunday.

His chance has come after Harper landed awkwardly following a challenge by striker Jermaine Beckford during last weekend's 1-0 win at Everton.

However, the older man is determined Krul's run in the team will be short-lived.

Harper, who for so long waited in the in shadow of Shay Given before establishing himself as first choice, has already set his sights on defying medical opinion.

He said: "I was told it could be four months, but I was determined to stay positive until we'd had a clear diagnosis.

"We have been told three months, so it will be now up to me and the medical team to get down to work and chisel as many days off that as possible.

"We have got great medical staff here and they know that me even being in the medical room for more than five minutes usually sees me banging my head against the wall, so three months will be a long time.

"There will be the proper protocol, of course, but I will be looking to be back as soon as possible."

Harper will be an interested spectator as the Magpies attempt to continue their encouraging start to life back in the top flight this weekend.

The win at Everton made up for the disappointment of the previous week's 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Newcastle and Wednesday's cup heroics, which came despite Hughton making 10 changes, have simply increased optimism.

The manager is likely to field his strongest XI once again, although Sol Campbell will be pushing for a place after making his debut at Chelsea, while James Perch is available after suspension.

Expectation will be high once again, but Hughton insists there is no need to bring his players back down to earth.

He said: "It's never that difficult, I must admit, because of the preparation that has to go into every game.

"It's so massive that the day after the Chelsea game, you are already going through the Stoke preparation, so it is not very difficult to bring yourself back down.

"We have just got to make sure we are prepared very well for a very good and very dangerous team."