Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Sean McCormick discusses Freddie Woodman

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Newcastle United journalist Sean McCormick has provided his views on the situation surrounding Freddie Woodman and his future at the club.

Steve Bruce has four goalkeepers currently at his disposal this summer – Mark Gillespie, Karl Darlow, Martin Dubravka and Woodman – with the latter three all with a good chance of being the club’s No 1 goalkeeper this season, but with only one starting spot available and one on the bench in the matchday squad, someone is going to be left out.

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Woodman has started the club’s last two pre-season games with Darlow absent through illness and Dubravka missing through injury, hinting that he might be the frontrunner for the job to start the year.

However, speaking on Facebook Live for The Chronicle, McCormick hinted that Woodman could find himself away from the club once again by the time the summer window closes, having been out on loan for the past two seasons at Swansea City:

“It might be a case where Darlow needs to be eased in and Freddie Woodman starts the season in goal, certainly. And that’s a big opportunity for Freddie Woodman, of course. In the last two seasons, he’s been excellent on loan at Championship side Swansea, he won the Championship Golden Glove last season.

“As I said before, Newcastle have got big hopes for him in the future. The plan was for him to go on loan to Bournemouth. Bournemouth are still awaiting a decision on that front. So that’s kind of one to watch later in the window, but as things stand, it looks as if Freddie Woodman’s going to start the season in goal.”

TIF Thoughts on Sean McCormick’s comments about Freddie Woodman and Newcastle United…

What should Newcastle do with Woodman this summer?

Keep him in the squad for next season

Keep him in the squad for next season

Loan him out again

Loan him out again

Sell him

Sell him

If Woodman does start the season in goal and then is moved out again once Darlow or Dubravka come back, especially to a club in the Championship once more, then that could come across as a big slap in the face to him.

If he were to be loaned to a Premier League club, or if he actually made the step up and became a Premier League No 1 with Newcastle so that there is at least some progression, then that would make sense at this point in his career.

But another season on loan in the Championship just doesn’t seem right for him to take that next step, because at the age of 24, he really should have been given the chance to establish himself permanently somewhere.

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Freelance sports journalist & broadcaster.