Matthew Ketchell has been speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast about how the return of Martin Dubravka will hopefully help out the Newcastle United defence.
Dubravka was first brought to Tyneside on a loan with Rafael Benitez recruiting the Slovakian international during the January transfer window back in 2018 and he made an instant impact on his debut keeping a clean sheet at home to Manchester United.
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It has been a very much stop and start 12 months for Dubravka who picked up a serious injury last season which saw Karl Darlow get a run of games, only to be dropped for the final run-in.
And over the summer, Dubravka picked up yet another injury and he is yet to even make a matchday squad this season, although he is now back in training so should be closing in on a return.
Ketchell is hopeful that Dubrvka’s return can help calm down and sort out Newcastle’s defence which has already conceded 20 league goals this season.
(28:44) “Defensively is where it’s a big worry, I think Dubravka coming back is going to be huge I just feel much safer when he’s at the back and the backline just feels a bit more organised.
“I saw a lot of panic at the Tottenham game, I saw a lot of panicking among the defenders, shouting and looking at each other, head spinning and no shape at all.
“I just wonder if Dubravka helps that situation a bit more, he seems to be a more vocal goalkeeper than Darlow who I do like but I would hope Dubravka can come back into the team sooner rather than later.”
TIF Thoughts on Dubravka…
There was even talk of Darlow receiving an England call up because of his form for the Toon, however, once Dubravka was back to full fitness, Steve Bruce wasted very little time throwing his regular number one back into the lineup.
The Slovakian was signed for what now appears to be a bargain price of £3.6 million and having already racked up 103 appearances for the Magpies and signed a new six-year deal in 2019, Dubravka is clearly highly regarded and thought of within the club having been trusted as number one by both Benitez and Bruce.
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