2019/20 Newcastle United Review: Martin Dubravka

Newcastle United’s first-choice keeper played a major role again this season.

With the season officially in the books, we will review every Newcastle United player’s performance during the 2019-20 Premier League campaign.

First up, #1 on the roster and #1 on the goalkeeping depth chart, Martin Dubravka. He kept the Magpies in a lot of matches, as he has done in past years.

Right before the league went on pause due to COVID-19, he suffered what may have been a season-ending knee injury, but, the time off allowed him to fully recover when the season restarted.

2019-20 EPL stats: 38 appearances, 11 clean sheets, 140 saves (league-high), 58 goals conceded

Expert Breakdown

Durim Halimi: Martin Dubravka’s name is a synonym for reliability. No goalkeeper had to work as hard as the Slovakian shot-stopper this season, but his awareness in goal kept Newcastle United in so many games.

Dubravka has, once again, shown that he should be considered a top-five goalkeeper. With 11 clean sheets to his name and the most saves in the Premier League, the Slovakian’s athleticism between the sticks is a key reason why Newcastle United were not in the bottom three.

It comes as no surprise that teams like PSG and Juventus have expressed interest in his services, but Newcastle United are lucky that he agreed to sign a six-year extension.

Carson A. Merk: As any goalkeeper will have, there were some soft goals conceded this season. But, for the most part, Dubravka was his usual star self. In numerous matches, he was the reason that Newcastle United either took a result or was close enough to have a chance of taking one.

Unless the takeover is completed and the new owners buy a top-five goalkeeper in the world, Dubravka will be the top man in goal again next season for the Magpies and that’s a sense of relief for the Toon Army.