Presenter Richard Keys has claimed that Martin Dubravka is not good enough for Newcastle United.
Newcastle have signed three players in this summer transfer window, including Nick Pope, who has started both of the opening Premier League fixtures, keeping two clean sheets.
Martin Dubravka was the mainstay keeper for Newcastle last season, especially in the second half of the season when the Magpies started to pick up form, featuring 26 times in the top flight.
With Pope having an impressive start to his Newcastle career, Keys wrote on his personal blog and claimed that he feels Dubravka is not good enough and the English ‘keeper will be in contention to start for the Three Lions in their World Cup opener.
“What a good game Nick Pope had for Newcastle. Eddie Howe obviously agrees with me that Martin Dubravka isn’t good enough. Pope is. Either he will be in goal for England’s WC opener or Ramsdale will. Pickford won’t,” Keys said.
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TIF Thoughts on Keys’ comments…
Pope signed for Newcastle after Burnley got relegated to the Championship, and he might have been thinking that if he wants to go to the World Cup, playing regular football for the Magpies would give him an excellent chance of doing this.
Howe opting to bring in Pope for a fee in the region of £10.3m, was perhaps an indication that he was not happy with the selection of goalkeepers that he already had in his squad, so Dubravka might be keen to leave the club in search of regular game time elsewhere.
With Pope keeping two clean sheets in two games for Howe’s side, it does not look like Dubravka will be getting an opportunity between the sticks anytime soon, so it will be interesting to see if he is happy to play second fiddle and enjoy the success at Newcastle or whether he will force a move.