Who is Newcastle United’s best player so far? The answer may surprise you
Posted on November 20th, 2020 | No Comments |
Whilst Callum Wilson and Allan St Maximin might be grabbing most of the praise up at the front, it is stand in goalkeeper Karl Darlow who has really given Steve Bruce a ‘selection headache’ (as they say) whenever Martin Dubravka recovers from his heel injury.
Whilst it has been a fairly average season for the Magpies so far, by recent standards anyway with the team currently lying in 13th, same as they finished last season, poor Darlow has received a battering in goal, fending off more shots than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League. His record so far this season being 39 saves and 1 penalty save. He is also currently Newcastle United’s most highly rated player on Whoscored, beating Allan St Maximin and Callum Wilson to the top spot.
Originally signed in a job lot with Jamaal Lascelles from Nottingham Forest back in 2014, whilst Lascelles has gone on to become Toon’s Captain and a standard fixture in the first eleven, apart from a decent run in the Championship in 2016-17, the now 30 year old Darlow definitely remained as one of Toon’s forgotten men, until now.
Indeed, I think that it is fair to say that it is Callum Wilson’s goals at one end, almost miraculous considering the scraps he is feeding on in many games, and Darlow’s heroic goalkeeping exploits at the other end which have been keeping the Magpies in mid-table. Wilson has scored 6 goals in 9 games so far this season, yet the the odds on him being Premier League top scorer are still 100/1, something which is worth thinking about, especially with some of the offers available at www.betinireland.ie. If Wilson keeps up his goalscoring form, they may start declining rapidly, but I digress.
Whatever happens with the outfield players, strong competition among the goalkeepers is nothing new at St James’ Park, Given vs Harper, Krul vs Harper, Krul vs Forster and so on… Meanwhile, Dubravka’s injury drags on after surgery, setbacks and such, and his return to fitness is still uncertain. If Darlow is retired to the bench once more when he does, it would be understandable if he thoughts turned to a potential move as he would be good enough to hold down a more permanent place at another Premier League club.
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
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