'I'm enjoying every moment': Martin Dubravka is loving life at Newcastle United once again after almost leaving for Saudi Arabia

Newcastle United's goalkeeper situation is about as clear as River Tyne right now with the Number 1 wearing the Number 22 and the Number 2 wearing the Number 1 and with three more backup goalkeepers that are neither use nor ornament.

Nick Pope is still allegedly the club's first-choice goalkeeper; however, since he's been out injured, Martin Dubravka, who wears the number 1 on his shirt has made a claim to make his status reflect his squad number.

The Slovakian has barely put a foot wrong while deputising for Pope, to the point where Pope has now recovered from his injury but is being kept out of the side by the 36-year-old.

Dubravka almost left the club in January. A move to Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia was practically agreed before Eddie Howe convinced Dubravka to stick around after a string of top performances.

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Martin Dubravka is loving life at Newcastle

Indeed, Dubravka did leave Newcastle at one point to go to Manchester United in a bizarre move that upset Newcastle fans. He refused to play second fiddle to Nick Pope who had just arrived at the club, but then moved to Man United to ultimately be the third choice. He ended up playing for them in the Carabao Cup, which, upon returning to Newcastle with his tail between his legs, ruled him out of representing Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final as Pope served a suspension.

That's all behind us now and Dubravka's recent form has once again endeared him to the Toon Army with nobody questioning Howe's decision to stick with Dubravka over Pope, and it seems the Slovakian is feeling good about life on Tyneside after talking to the club's official website.

"The feeling the two years ago was a bit strange; for me, it was a mess but now I'm there with the team, playing the games, and I can make some impact that can affect the games as well.

"I just enjoy the matches - that's the most important thing for me at the moment," he continued. "Since I came back to the starting line-up, I'm enjoying every moment because I've been waiting a long time, and I'm just trying to make the most of it.

"If you can help the boys in any aspect, I will try to do it and I think the boys appreciated it yesterday, the same as I appreciated their blocks, their effort. We are in the same boat, we wanted the same thing. I have to say, I've had the chance to experience different environments and different dressing rooms but this is probably the best I've ever been in.

"I went through the transition; obviously, we were at different stages under different owners, and everything was different. Now we are competing with the best teams, we are challenging and we want to win trophies. We are nearly there - so I hope that this time it will happen for us."

Dubravka for Wembley!

It remains to be seen whether Dubravka can keep Nick Pope at bay for the remainder of the season and whether he takes his place between the sticks at Wembley next month.

We hope he does, he definitely deserves to be the one to line up at Wembley after playing such a huge part in getting us there.

It's expected that the goalkeeping landscape will change massively in the summer, so this may be Dubravka's last hurrah at Newcastle so let's hope he can go out in style.