Newcastle fans were dead wrong about this player entering the season

While supporters were skeptical of him ahead of this season, Newcastle United have had the best version of this player thus far in 2020.

With any club entering a season, there are always question marks. For Newcastle United, one of the biggest uncertainties ahead of the Premier League campaign has turned into one of the club’s best performers in 2020.

When the news of Martin Dubravka’s injury was announced, Newcastle United supporters everywhere were nervous about Karl Darlow stepping in for the star goalkeeper. He’s been shaky in the past and Dubravka leaves big shoes to fill.

But, instead of a negative this season, Darlow has been a massive positive. He leads the league in saves and is second in save percentage, only behind Edouard Mendy who hasn’t played as many matches for Chelsea.

He picked up his second clean sheet of the season in the win over Crystal Palace and made a few big saves to do so. In previous years, he’s been capable of surprising stops but also prone to massive gaffes. This season, he’s been steady and sturdy in goal.

While there isn’t an exact timeframe on a return for Dubravka, there’s not a desperate need to rush him back as we all may have expected there to be. Darlow is performing well in goal and could even continue to hold the spot once Dubravka is fully fit.

Darlow, who signed a new deal to extend his stay to 2025 at Newcastle, will aim to establish himself as the first-choice man between the pipes and hold off the highly-regarded Dubravka. Steve Bruce may have a tough decision on the horizon in goal between two talented keepers, which is a good thing.