Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper has admitted that he was 'shocked' to receive a call from Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce regarding a move to the Stadium of Light.

On Friday, the 40-year-old signed a contract with the Black Cats until the end of the season.

Harper spent two decades at St James' Park, but has been out of work since leaving Hull City last year.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind, how it all happened," Harper told the club's official website. "I saw the manager in the summer when we guests at a wedding, not together I might add, and we got chatting because we were obviously both out of the game at the time.

"I worked with him before at Newcastle and I got a phone call yesterday asking how I was, what my fitness was like and if I fancied coming in for a chat, so I came in this morning and however many hours later we've had a good chat, done a few tests and I've signed on the dotted line.

"I turned down a lot of offers in the summer; I had a chance to join Premier League club and Championship club in August and three offers to go to India, but I think my career proves I'm a bit of a home bird. I was in shock when [Allardyce] rang but over the course of today, seeing the training field, and that little gnawing feeling that there was something left in me, I thought why not."

Harper has replaced Costel Pantilimon, who joined Watford earlier this week.