Loris Karius was handed a rare start against Arsenal, 12 months after his Newcastle United debut in the League Cup final against Manchester United, because of Martin Dubravka’s illness.
Before the game, Eddie Howe stated that his number three keeper, who has played only two competitive games in three years, is ‘ready to play’.
But that was something Alan Shearer simply had to disagree with because he thinks it’s ‘impossible’ for Loris Karius to be in that frame of mind, as he told Premier League Productions (24/02/24 at 7:45 pm).
Given that Newcastle are in a situation where they are calling upon their their-choice keeper, then it doesn’t really bode well for the team in any circumstances.
Especially when they are still in a poor vein of form, conceding goals for fun and dropping further away from the European places.
It’s not yet known if Martin Dubravka will be available for Newcastle’s FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday, but ahead of the Alan Shearer derby, the man himself admitted that he felt ‘sorry’ for Loris Karius.
Loris Karius earns rare start for Newcastle United
“I understand Eddie saying that he is ready and he has played games behind closed doors,” Shearer.
“But it’s impossible to be ready. You can’t have one competitive game in three years, and then all of a sudden, be 100% ready for a game of this size.
“I feel a bit sorry for him because I think he is in an impossible situation.”
Newcastle’s defensive issues
That has been the crux of Newcastle’s problems and a big reason why they haven’t performed as well as last season.
From Sandro Tonali being unavailable, injuries and individual errors, that Champions League finish last season seems a long time ago now.
The only hope for the Magpies is to reach Wembley in the FA Cup and secure either seventh or sixth, if they can get a run together.
Seven points separate Newcastle and sixth-placed Manchester United, but there are only two points between them and seventh-placed Brighton.
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