Eddie Howe insists Newcastle United cannot “currently” sanction an exit for Martin Dubravka, given the Slovakia international is starting, but has not entirely ruled out a late-January departure.
The 35-year-old is entering the final six months of his Newcastle contract and is receiving strong interest from Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab.
However, Nick Pope, Newcastle’s first choice, is sidelined with a knee injury and Howe is unsure when the England international will return to full fitness.
While Pope is out, Howe believes the club cannot afford to let his deputy depart, even if Dubravka pushes to go and others at the club may be minded to accept the terms on offer.
“Certainly, we wouldn’t want to lose the goalkeeper that’s playing for us currently, that wouldn’t make sense,” Howe said, when asked about Dubravka’s situation at his pre-Aston Villa press conference. “So, no, that isn’t a deal that we would want to sanction currently.”
Howe insisted it was “news to me”, with reports emerging from Saudi Arabia suggested a deal had been agreed for Dubravka to leave, insisting, “I don’t think it’s got to that point.”
Yet, should Pope return before the end of next month, Dubravka may depart, though Howe is unsure whether a replacement would be signed. Newcastle hold a long-term interest in Burnley’s James Trafford and had a bid rejected in June.
Pope is sidelined with a knee injury (Stephanie Meek – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“Well, these are questions that we have to find answers to,” Howe said, when asked if Newcastle have the capacity to sign a replacement for Dubravka if he leaves. “As I say, the Martin situation isn’t clear-cut, let’s wait and see what happens in the next few weeks.
”But he’s certainly doing very well, I’ve been really pleased with his reintroduction into the team. I think he’s given us a calmness, a composure, he’s made a couple of really good saves, let’s not forget the one he made at 1-0 against Ipswich, which was a big moment in the game.
“So I’m delighted with how he’s playing. He’s in goal for us at the moment and doing a great job.”
Pope has missed the last three games with a knee problem and Howe is unsure when he will be available again.
“He’s doing OK,” Howe said. “He was given a timeframe initially where he had to rest, he’s had a couple of injections to his knee and he’s feeling better, strong. Quite when he’ll be available again is unclear.”
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Joelinton faces a fitness test on Monday after being forced off against Brentford to determine his availability for the Boxing Day fixture with Villa at St James’ Park, while Joe Willock should be fine, despite suffering a knock to his head during the 4-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday.
“We hope so,” Howe said, when asked if Joelinton, who was suspended for Ipswich, will be fit. “We’ll have a look at him today. He had various facial injuries after Brentford, in which he came off. He had a couple of stitches in and around his ear, so we’ll see how he is today.”
Encouragingly, Sven Botman has an outside chance of returning to the matchday squad for Villa, too, having successfully navigated another behind-closed-doors practice match on Saturday, following a 60-minute runout for the Under-21s last week. Botman last featured for the first team in March due to an anterior cruciate knee-ligament (ACL) injury.
“He’s getting closer,” Howe said. “I’m pleased with how he’s been in the last couple of weeks, he’s had various tests and in the game. He came through another practice match at the weekend on Saturday. It’ll be a case of deciding when we introduce him into the squad.”
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(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
