The Belgian goalkeeper appears to have a long route back to the first-team after being dropped by Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United.
Matz Sels admits he must wait for his chance again at Newcastle United, The Chronicle reports, but he may be better off cutting his ties immediately.
The Belgian international arrived at Tyneside to fill the gloves of Tim Krul and Rob Elliot, both ruled out for the long-term with cruciate ligament injuries, but has quickly discovered that the rough and tumble of the Championship is a different world entirely to the Jupiler League back home.
Sels may have reached the Champions League knockout stage with Gent last season but his reputation counted for little when he was dropped in October following a series of amateur mistakes.
As such, Karl Darlow has usurped him as Newcastle’s number one and, thanks to some point-saving heroics, looks set to continue in the role for the remainder of the season.
However, Sels, who could yet fall to third in the pecking order once Elliot regains full fitness, insists that he is not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
“I try to work hard in training and show myself and make it difficult [for Benitez to decide]. That’s what I try to do,” the 24-year-old, given a rare start in Newcastle’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with Birmingham on Saturday, told The Chronicle.
“It’s football. Karl’s doing well at the moment. As a goalkeeper, there’s only one position, so it’s normal.
“I have to be patient and see what the future brings.”
Unfortunately for Sels, he looks likely to be gathering more splinters on the bench than balls on the pitch in the coming months.
Voetbal Krant claimed in November that Belgian giants Anderlecht were aiming to hand Sels an escape route out of the English game and, after falling from first to third choice in a matter of months, he should consider taking it.
The fans lost patience a while back. Now it seems the manager has, too.
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