After starring on loan last season, Martin Dubravka is proving to be an elite shot-stopper for Newcastle United again this year.
While Liverpool and Chelsea brought in massive money goalkeepers this offseason, Newcastle United spent very little funds to bring back Martin Dubravka. Despite the huge financial differences, the Newcastle United keeper is proving to be one of the Premier League’s elite.
Other goalkeepers have high-octane attacks opposite them, which allows more of a margin for error and less time with the ball in their defending half. Dubravka does not have that luxury. With a primarily defensive set up, it’s difficult for the Slovakian to allow a goal and have the club still win.
This season, in only four matches, he’s been called upon to make 11 saves. Playing against a difficult early-season schedule against powers Chelsea, Spurs, Manchester City, along with newcomer Cardiff City on the road, he has notched a clean sheet and has conceded six goals, including an own goal from DeAndre Yedlin vs. Chelsea. His reflexes are top notch and he has made some massive stops in big moments for the Toon. No sequence was bigger for Dubravka in this early season than his triple save against Manchester City. He was able to deny the initial attempt from close range, then turn away both powerful follow-up blasts.
Last year, Dubravka made 12 appearances on loan and finished with six wins and four clean sheets. It was no surprise the club solidified their place in the upper half of the table as he solidified the goalkeeping position. As the schedule begins to balance out, you can expect to see the clean sheets rack up for Dubravka. If Newcastle United is to experience decent success this season, a lot of it will be because of their star goalkeeper.