Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is facing some time on the sidelines.
The 32-year-old has picked up a foot injury, and it could potentially rule him out for the start of the new season.
The Chronicle have reported he is seeing a consultant, and there is potential for him to undergo surgery.
The developments comes after Freddie Woodman did not join his Magpies teammates at the club’s pre-season training camp in York.
Woodman was actually set to join Bournemouth on loan. He’d even had a medical.
But Newcastle have pulled the plug amid fears about Dubravka.
The Chronicle say Steve Bruce could now play Woodman against York City on Sunday.
It is an interesting situation, and it remains to be seen how bad the injury to Dubravka is.
The Slovakian stopper was also injured this time last year.
He cracked a bone in his ankle during his summer break back in his homeland, and then aggravated the issue in pre-season training.
He was out until the end of 2020, and started making matchday squads again in January.
But the form of Karl Darlow meant he didn’t regain his starting berth until the end of February.
Newcastle fans have been discussing the situation on social media.
Quite a few now have the same message for Bruce, and that is that he should be giving Woodman the chance he deserves.
He wants to be a number one, and many think he’s good enough to become just that:
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