Could Dubravka deal prove masterstroke for Newcastle’s Karl Darlow?

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Rafa Benitez has insisted that Karl Darlow has improved a lot since Martin Dubravka arrived at Newcastle United during the January transfer window.

Despite playing regularly during Newcastle’s run to the Championship title last season, it has always appeared that Karl Darlow has never quite managed to fully win Rafa Benitez over.

The 27-year-old has featured just 10 times in the Premier League this season, and has not featured for the club since Martin Dubravka made his St James’ Park debut for the Magpies.

The Sun reported back in November that the former Nottingham Forest trainee could be allowed to leave for the right price, so Dubravka’s arrival certainly hinted that there may be scope further down the line for another side to tempt Darlow away – especially as Newcastle have the option to make Dubravka’s deal permanent in the summer, according to the Daily Mirror.

But perhaps Benitez’s recent comments, that have been reported by the Shields Gazette, on the impact that Dubravka’s move has had on Darlow just hints that actually, the deal may be inspired and may be what helps the latter salvage his Newcastle career.

“They’ve been fine – it’s been good for them,” he said, as reported by the Shields Gazette, when asked about the impact Dubravka’s arrival has had on the other stoppers. “Darlow’s improved a lot in terms of the little things that he can see Martin doing.”

It appears that Darlow is starting to really impress Benitez, and that could prove particularly important if the Slovakian’s standards drop during the remaining weeks of the season and the Spaniard decides to make a change.

Darlow has arguably threatened to seize the initiative in the battle to be the Magpies’ number one in the past, but never quite been able to grasp the opportunity with both hands it seems.

But based on Benitez’s comments, Dubravka’s arrival could prove to be exactly what he needed to get to the level that will enable him to prove that he is good enough to be Newcastle’s first choice at some stage.