Freddie Woodman’s Swansea form puts Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka to shame

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Newcastle United loaned Freddie Woodman out to Swansea City and the goalkeeper is flying as Steve Bruce’s Magpies struggle.

Newcastle United fans were understandably delighted when goalkeeper Martin Dubravka ended the doubts about his future by signing a new six-year deal with the Premier League strugglers last month.

But, when you isolate his performances from the last two months, does the Slovakia international really deserve a new, long-term contract? Dubravka has been superb since he joined Newcastle in January 2018, no one is disputing that fact, but it is impossible to ignore the dip in his usually excellent standards since the start of the season.

There were howlers against Leicester and Liverpool and even the usually mild-mannered Steve Bruce blamed his ill-advised ‘flap’ for costing Newcastle during last week’s home draw with Wolves.

All the while, a young shot-stopper Newcastle loaned out over the summer continues to go from strength to strength.

Freddie Woodman might not be the Championship’s most eye-catching ‘keeper, he’s solid rather than spectacular, but his consistency has been remarkable since he moved to South Wales. In fact, no stopper in the division has conceded so few away goals (3 in 6 games).

So far, England’s U20 World Cup winner has kept five clean sheets for Steve Cooper’s side and Swansea fans cannot speak highly enough of him.

Now, this isn’t all great news for Newcastle fans.

Woodman has made it clear that he has grown frustrated with life as Dubravka’s back-up on Tyneside and, according to The Chronicle, both Arsenal and Celtic are circling. His contract expires in 2021 and he has himself admitted that he’s in an ‘awkward situation’.

Though anyone who has watched Woodman mind his net with real assertiveness at Swansea will tell you that this is a man Newcastle cannot afford to let go.