Steve Bruce has shared a positive injury update regarding Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who is hoping to be back out on the grass next week.
Dubravka hasn’t featured since Euro 2020 due to injury, while Karl Darlow has only recently returned to first-team training because he was suffering with the aftereffects of catching COVID.
But Darlow is now targeting a return to Premier League action which could mean that Freddie Woodman gets dropped after his error against Manchester United, which he has taken responsibility for.
Darlow and Woodman are jostling for the number one spot because Bruce stated last month that the Slovakian would miss another eight weeks of action.
However, speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Leeds United clash, Bruce said on Dubravka: “He’s coming along nicely. Thankfully, the wound that was badly infected has gone. He’s hoping he’ll be back on the grass next week, so that’s a bit of good news.”
It’s been a huge blow not having Dubravka available, who is Newcastle’s true number one and best goalkeeper by a long way.
Martin Dubravka has been missed
Although Newcastle fans rate him highly, some supporters thought the 32-year-old should have been excluded from the club’s Premier League squad until January whilst he recovered from injury.
But instead, Dubravka, who has been struggling with a foot problem, was included, which meant Bruce named four goalkeepers in his 25-man squad.
The quicker Dubravka is back in the team the better. In his absence Newcastle look jittery and nervous at the back.
The constant changing of the goalkeeping position will not help settle the team, but once Dubravka does return, it should reassure the defence and improve a backline that has conceded the most goals (12) in the Premier League.
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