Martin Dubravka has impressed on loan at Newcastle since joining in January.
Newcastle United legend Shay Given has told Sky Sports’ Premier League Daily Show (Tuesday, 10am) that the Toon “would be mad” not to sign Martin Dubravka on a permanent basis.
Dubravka, 29, joined the club on loan from Sparta Prague in the January transfer window until the end of the season, and has starred for the Toon as Rafa Benitez guides the Magpies to within an inch of Premier League safety.
The eight-time Slovakia international produced a man-of-the-match display on his debut in a 1-0 win over Manchester United, before shining with two successive clean sheets in wins over Huddersfield Town and Southampton.
The Evening Chronicle claim there is a £4million permanent clause in Dubravka’s contract and former Newcastle goalkeeper Given has urged the club to activate that clause in order to land the Slovak on a permanent basis.
“His start against Man United was Roy of the Rovers stuff,” Given said. “Coming to the Premier League, a new country, a new language and he looked as though he had been there for 10 years.
“A fantastic debut and it gave the club a lift. Rafa has wanted a goalkeeper for the last 18 months and it’s only a loan deal but I think they would be mad not to tie him down to a long-term contract.”
The former MSK Zilina star immediately ousted the likes of Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow to nab the number on jersey and he has made it his own since joining the club.
With three clean sheets and just five goals conceded in four Premier League outings, 6ft 3in Dubravka will be hoping to continue his excellent start to life on Tyneside with another strong performance on Saturday as the Toon travel to Leicester City.
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