Mark joined Newcastle in the summer of 2020. With the failed takeover by the Saudi Public Investment Fund still raw, thoughts of world record signings and title challenges faded quickly and reality hit home hard as Newcastle entered another season under the ownership of Mike Ashley. COVID too was having an effect, with clubs finances thrown into turmoil. For Newcastle, their first singing of the summer would be Mark on a free from Motherwell. With Rob Elliot leaving the club after 9 years and with Woodman on his way out again on loan, this only left first choice Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow between the sticks.

For Mark the opportunity to join the Magpies was too good to turn down. Not only having spent most of his career in the lower leagues in England (Carlisle, Blyth and Walsall) and in Scotland with Motherwell, but also because he started his career with Newcastle United as a youngster, with Newcastle being his home town and being a supporter of the club. A dream move for Mark who was aged 28 at the time.