Newcastle should play Karl Darlow against Tottenham and give him the chance to prove he can be the club’s number one.
Karl Darlow has every right to feel aggrieved with what has happened to him at Newcastle United this summer, with the Chronicle reporting Rafa Benitez wants a new goalkeeper.
Tim Krul has been told he has no future at the club, while Freddie Woodman is expected to be sent out on loan again and somewhat surprisingly, Darlow has also been regularly linked with an exit from St James’ Park.
Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow in action.
Rob Elliot is the man likely to be handed the gloves for the Magpies’ Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, should Benitez not sign a new stopper before the weekend.
This is despite the fact it was Darlow who played 34 league matches as Newcastle won promotion from the Championship in 2016/17, in comparison to Elliot’s three outings.
The latter does have slightly more top flight experience than his Welsh counterpart (36 games compared to nine), but he is also five years older at 31 and therefore less likely to develop into a top-class ‘keeper.
With Benitez struggling to land the new number one that he so desperately desires, perhaps the Spaniard should change tact and instead give the players he already has at the club the chance to prove themselves.
Why not play Darlow against Spurs as surely the 26-year-old has earned that opportunity ahead of Elliot and with more than a fortnight still left in the transfer window after that game, have a rethink at the start of next week.
Rob Elliot of Newcastle United makes a save from Daniel Johnson of Preston North End.
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