Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has picked up an injury on the training ground which leaves him as a doubt for the club’s clash against Burnley on Monday evening, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim on their website that the shot stopper, who has been in every one of the club’s match day squads this season, including his only start in the League Cup, as backup to Martin Dubrakva, has suffered an elbow injury at the Magpies’ Benton training complex.
Were he to be ruled out of action then manager Rafael Benitez would have to choose from the experienced Rob Elliot or young talent Freddie Woodman to take his place on the bench against the Clarets.
Opinion
This really is not the biggest injury blow to Newcastle but it still does not help their cause, having suffered a number of setbacks over the last couple of weeks. What it could well do is bring young Woodman – if he is the one chosen to take Darlow’s place – into the spotlight, giving him the chance to work much closer with the first team, including on a match day, and continue his development as one of the brightest future talents the Magpies have on their books. Darlow looked like he could have been on his way out in the summer and so to have not only remained but to have kept a regular place in the squad this season is a surprise. Could this injury blow mean the Toon Army have seen the last of him? Only time will tell, but a serious problem will mean the Magpies are unable to sell him on in January should they have wished to.