Few Newcastle United players faced a more challenging Sunday than Martin Dubravka. Eddie Howe witnessed his injury-stricken team endure a 4-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, following a recent setback at Goodison Park. Dubravka, stepping in for the injured Nick Pope, potentially bore responsibility for three goals in the match.
Alan Shearer strongly suggested the need for a replacement, expressing disbelief if a new goalkeeper isn’t acquired in the upcoming January transfer window. Shearer bluntly noted that there’s a reason Dubravka held the number two spot.
While it’s undeniable that a new keeper will likely join, there’s also the acknowledgment that as a goalkeeper, a single error tends to be more scrutinized, and Dubravka’s return from being out of the lineup might not be straightforward.
Newcastle United beaten at Tottenham
“There’s a reason he’s been number two,” Shearer explained. “I mean, Nick Pope has been absolutely fantastic for Newcastle.”
“I understand that it’s difficult to break into the team after not playing for so long.”
“However, it would not surprise me in the least if Newcastle went out and found a replacement for Pope in the coming weeks.”
“It’s got to be. If he is hurt, they will be in big difficulty, therefore they must prepare and plan. I’d be surprised if they aren’t already considering alternative options for bringing in another goalkeeper – I’d be surprised if they haven’t already talked options for what to do in the coming weeks.”
Newcastle United goalkeeper options
Some thought Dubravka deserved a shot at replacing Pope until he returned, but that plainly no longer holds true following his current performance.
However, there are a handful of free players available for Newcastle to consider, including ex-Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
You could argue that because he is a free agent, he is the safest bet, but Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris is also being mentioned.
In any case, this is a critical decision for Newcastle, and if they get it right, it will have a significant impact on how they perform in the second half of the season.
Leave a Reply