Martin Dubravka has sent an apologetic message to Newcastle United fans on Instagram after conceding four goals in a disappointing defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.
Dubravka has had some big shoes to fill with the absence of Nick Pope, but Sunday’s game hasn’t done him any favours in trying to secure his position as backup goalkeeper.
The Slovakian took to Instagram after the game where he said he would accept the criticism from Newcastle fans and try to learn from it with some huge games coming up.
Dubravka wants to move on after display against Tottenham
The whole team will want to put this game to the back of their minds and just try to move on as they can’t afford to focus on what went wrong too much ahead of Wednesday’s game against AC Milan in the Champions League.
As we’ve seen before, Tottenham are a very good attacking side and, although they’ve had some unlucky results recently after going ahead, they looked full of confidence on Sunday.
Newcastle on the other hand looked like the Newcastle of old, and with the game finishing with nine players who were at the club prior to the takeover it pretty much was.
Dubravka has been solid for Newcastle in some dark times in the past, but performances against Tottenham and Everton may suggest that he’s just not at the level that the Magpies are hoping to be at.
On Instagram, he said: “We have to take it, learn from it and also accept criticism, we will only get through it together. Thank you all for you amazing support.”
Newcastle may have one eye on the January market
Eddie Howe has a lot of faith in every player at the club, that’s the message that he sends to his squad and he will always support them. But there will be a conversation had about upgrading the goalkeeper.
Dubravka’s positioning, his poor commanding of his box and lack of belief to come off his line to claim crosses or to make clearances seriously hinders his ability to play at the top of the Premier League.
What you don’t realise with Pope until he’s gone – for up to four months it looks like – is that he brings so much more to the table than just shot-stopping and he is going to be a huge miss for Newcastle.
Names like David de Gea and Hugo Lloris have been mentioned has possible candidates to fill in for the English international, but for now at least Dubravka will have another chance to prove himself against Milan.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
