Ahead of Newcastle United’s trip to Goodison Park on Thursday night, Callum Wilson has revealed what he thinks about Martin Dubravka who is set to start in goal against Everton.
Newcastle suffered yet another devastating injury against Man United on Saturday, this time to Nick Pope who had been on top form coming into the game.
Wilson has now revealed on The Footballer’s Football Podcast how he has full faith in Dubravka to come into the team and do just as good a job as Pope.
Dubravka has big shoes to fill
There are few shot-stoppers in the Premier League who are better than Nick Pope and any team would miss a player of his calibre for a lengthy period of time.
Against PSG Pope was Newcastle’s star man and got them so close to claiming all three points in a crucial game before a very controversial last-minute penalty.
Now, with the 31-year-old set to undergo surgery on his shoulder after dislocating it against Man United, Dubravka has been confirmed by Eddie Howe as Newcastle’s starting keeper against Everton.
Like Howe, Wilson has faith in Dubravka to put in a solid performance for Newcastle against the Toffees, even despite all the stick that he and his teammates may give the keeper in training.
On the podcast, Wilson said: “We batter the goalkeepers daily. You are doing finishing drills and having a laugh with them. ‘Have you not put your arms on today? Is anyone in net? Poppadum wrists!’
“But basically when push comes to shove they are all at the club for a reason. They are all there, professional, they work day in and day out for an opportunity to arise and now it arises, second goes to first and third goes to second. That’s how it works.
“Of course they can step in, is the answer to your question.”
Dubravka is good enough to start for Newcastle
As Wilson hinted at in his podcast, Dubravka is more than capable of starting in this Newcastle team as he has previously proven to be a brilliant shot-stopper in almost six years at the club.
A better question would be whether or not he has the confidence to take this role on after being made second choice last summer when Pope arrived from Burnley.
The £4m signing did not take too kindly to being left out of the team by Eddie Howe and subsequently left the club temporarily to go out on loan to Man United, though he only made two cup appearances before returning in January.
Everton will be an interesting test for the 34-year-old who will have to put in a good showing or risk being replaced again in January if the club search for a new keeper.
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