Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has promoted 20-year-old goalkeeper Nathan Harker to first team training as fellow shot stopper Rob Elliot is forced to the sidelines with a back injury, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim on their website that the 32-year-old, who stands at 6’2″ (source: Transfermarkt) has picked up a setback and is facing the prospect of surgery, putting the club’s plans of selling him this month on hold.
It is stated that Harker, who is a regular for the under-23s and was on the bench for the FA Cup games against Blackburn Rovers, has been drafted into first team training, while Karl Darlow is finally back from an elbow issue.
Opinion
This is really not good news for any of Newcastle’s goalkeepers behind Martin Dubravka, who will have all had their own plans for January. Elliot of course would have been eyeing up an exit after being frozen out of the first team, with game time in the twilight of his career a priority. Freddie Woodman meanwhile has been promoted to second choice in the absence of Darlow, who again could be seeking a move away from St James’ Park, despite the England under-21 international wanting to seal a loan deal in order to see more action. As for Harker, he was probably quite happy cutting his teeth with the under-23 side and has now been forced to give up his place in the team in order to keep him fit and healthy in case of a first team crisis. One injury has caused a complete shake up behind the scenes – and no one is likely to be happy with the new situation on their hands.