Eddie Howe looks to be sticking with 'really valued member of our squad' next season

 · August 11 2024, 12:54
Eddie Howe looks to be sticking with 'really valued member of our squad' next season
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Is there any other team in the Premier League that has five goalkeepers capable of playing in their first-team?

Newcastle United used four goalkeepers over two games this weekend and still had one to spare. I can't think of a time or a club that has ever had such a wealth of players at their disposal for one position.

Nick Pope played most of the game against Girona on Friday before John Ruddy was given a run-out at St James' Park in what was likely to be his first and last appearance for the club unless something goes hideously wrong.

Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos took a half each against Brest on Saturday which left poor old Mark Gillespie as the odd one out.

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Odysseas Vlachodimos is likely to usurp Martin Dubravka's second-choice spot

Martin Dubravka looked to be heading to Celtic at one point

Setting aside the fact that Newcastle continue to be linked with an interest in Burnley and England goalkeeper, James Trafford, we're still struggling to get our heads around what's going on.

We had expected that Martin Dubravka would leave this summer, and a move to Celtic looked to be on the cards before the Scottish club pivoted to Kasper Schmeichel instead.

Now Eddie Howe has labelled Dubravka as a valued squad member, we're bracing ourselves for him to still be around next season.

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Eddie Howe seems resigned to keeping Dubravka

Speaking after the Sela Cup victory on Saturday, Howe told The Chronicle that he was pleased with Dubz' performance.

"Martin played really well. He is a really valued member of our squad."

Granted that statement doesn't really say what the future holds for Dubravka, but bear in mind this is the man who spat his dummy out when he got bumped to second choice, how's he going to be feeling now that Odysseas Vlachodimos has come in? There's still three weeks left to sort this mess out, but I honestly just don't know how or why we put ourselves in this position.

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