Newcastle United’s experienced goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been placed on standby for today’s Premier League match against Leicester City. Head coach Eddie Howe will make a late decision on who will step in for Nick Pope, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Dubravka, set to turn 36 in January, is hopeful of being chosen to start against the newly promoted Foxes.
Last season, Dubravka made 30 appearances for Newcastle across all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets. Howe’s other options include Odysseas Vlachodimos and 38-year-old John Ruddy, as Pope is expected to be out for up to a month.
When asked about his goalkeeping options, Howe told Chronicle Live, “We have a very strong unit. It’s a good, experienced group of goalkeepers. The experience behind Nick is a great asset for us to utilise. We back all the goalkeepers we have, so let’s see what happens with Nick today.”
Pope sustained his injury during the game against Brentford and has not trained since. Howe added, “He’s been carrying a knee injury this week. Initially, we thought it was minor.”
In other news, Howe has provided an updated timeline for Sven Botman’s return from injury. The Dutch defender, who last played in March, was initially expected back in early 2025. However, Howe now suggests a potential comeback later this month.
Discussing Botman’s recovery, Howe explained, “He’s been training consistently for around four weeks, which was part of the plan. We’re following medical advice to ensure we handle his injury properly and give him the best chance to stay fit. The plan is for him to be available in late December or early January, at the earliest.”
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