Karl Darlow has been doing triple training sessions in a bid to regain his fitness levels, after the Newcastle United goalkeeper was hospitalised with Covid-19, per Chronicle Live.
The 30-year-old was admitted to hospital in July after testing positive for coronavirus and struggling to breathe. He continued to feel dizzy and suffered with a raft of symptoms even after returning home. But is now finally back training with the Toon’s other shot-stoppers.
Steve Bruce has insisted against putting a timescale on Darlow’s return and will wait until the Newcastle ace is ready. The Northampton-born ‘keeper hopes to hit the pitch again at some stage after the September international break.
Darlow faces a long road to recovery as the Newcastle goalie lost more than a stone. He also lost several kilos of muscle, so has been doing triple sessions in the gym over recent weeks. And has now returned to the grass under goalkeeping coach Simon Smith’s watch.
Newcastle’s club doctor Paul Catterson also carried out a medical test last week to assess Darlow’s fitness. In the meantime, Freddie Woodman will continue to hold down the fort after staying on Tyneside this summer. With first-choice Martin Dubravka not expected to return until October after complications following surgery on the Slovakian’s foot injury.
Steve Bruce will likely also name Mark Gillespie as one of four goalkeepers in his 25-man Premier League squad. The Magpies boss does not have to choose which to omit after failing to make any Deadline Day signings.
Darlow faces a long road back at Newcastle after Covid problems
Darlow likely faces a long road back at Newcastle after the problems suffered since testing positive for Covid this summer. He will need to put in a lot of work off the pitch to build back the muscle he lost. So, it is a good sign he has been doing triple sessions in the gym.
Bruce knows what Darlow is capable of offering when fully fit, after starring last season in place of Dubravka. The United boss praised the £25,000-per-week stopper for his heroics between the sticks. Having often been the star during a difficult run of form for the Toon.
“We needed our second goalkeeper to step up and at the moment, the jersey’s his because of his performances,” Bruce said, via the Daily Mail. “We’ve had to call on him a bit too much at times, but there’s no denying he’s been terrific all season.”
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