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Team Preview: Goalkeepers

By: Kevin Perry

Martin Dúbravka
Need to Know: Overall: 79, Age: 29, Nationality: Slovakian
The Slovakian international figures to play a prominent role between the sticks for the Magpies this season. He joined midway through last season, and was solid down the stretch for Newcastle, getting four clean sheets in twelve appearances, and won six games as the starting keeper. He had previously bounced around various clubs in central Europe, including Zilina, where he made the Champions League in 2010. Most recently, he was at Sparta Prague. He is known for his skill with his feet and ability to distribute the ball from the back. He’s also a good shot stopper, so look for him to feature often between the sticks under the new manager.


Karl Darlow
Need to Know: Overall: 73, Age: 27, Nationality: English
Darlow was once a promising goalkeeping prospect at Nottingham Forest, and while he’s never reached that potential, it looks like he’ll be seeing minutes for Newcastle this season. He recorded two clean sheets in his ten Premier League appearances, but he was a key member of the squad that battled through the Championship. I’d expect him to be the second choice for King, and see minutes in cup matches as well as stepping up if anything happens to Dúbravka.


Rob Elliot
Need to Know: Overall: 72, Age: 32, Nationality: Irish
Elliot has been at Newcastle since 2011, moving over from Charlton Athletic. He appeared in 16 games last season with 3 clean sheets, but there are some rumblings that he could be moving on from the club this season with the new manager. If he does end up sticking around, he’s a solid veteran who could contribute a lot in a leadership role, but he shouldn’t be expected to play huge minutes for this iteration of Newcastle. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s one of the first players on the chopping block under the new boss given his age and the other players ahead of him.


Freddie Woodman
Need to Know: Overall: 66, Age: 21, Nationality: English
Woodman is one of the better English goalkeeping prospects at the moment. He’s featured for England at many youth levels, from the U16s to the U21s, and even won the Golden Glove at the U-20 World Cup in 2017. He has been out on loan for most of his career at Newcastle, with a stint at Aberdeen last year, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him out on loan again next year. However, he could also stick around as a third choice keeper and see some minutes in cup settings and learn from Dúbravka, Darlow, and Elliot this year. What King, a coach renowned for his developmental abilities, chooses to do with Woodman will show us a lot about him and a good year for the youngster could get him first team minutes in the near future.


Nathan Harker
Need to Know: Overall: 57, Age: 19, Nationality: English
Harker has impressed with the U-23 squad, and he’s a prime candidate to be loaned out this season. There are plenty of squads in League Two that would love a chance to get their hands on Harker, and he could get some valuable experience this season. There is also a chance King chooses to keep him around and uses his own developmental skills with the young keeper. Either way, Harker probably won’t make a big impact on the team this year, but he’s one to watch for Newcastle.