Martin Dubravka facing rude awakening after Newcastle United update – expert
Paul Robinson has insisted Martin Dubravka is now the second choice goalkeeper at Newcastle despite his agent’s defiant interview comments.
The former England goalkeeper, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 33-year-old could grow “more and more frustrated” in the wake of Nick Pope’s arrival at St James’ Park.
Speaking to Sport.sk (30 June), Dubrakva’s agent, David Zik, insisted his client has “nothing to fear” and claimed the Slovakia international will remain first choice at the start of the 2022-23 season.
He revealed that the former Sparta Prague man has no interest in being a back-up to Pope and has already begun thinking about “option B” – a potential Magpies exit.
Dubravka, who is out of contract in June 2025, played 27 times in the 2021-22 season – keeping eight clean sheets.
Robinson backed Pope to come in as the number one shot-stopper and keep hold of the gloves.
“Dubravka is a top goalkeeper,” he told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs.
“But Nick Pope is up there with the best. You don’t sign a goalkeeper of his quality to sit him on the bench.
“Eddie Howe is going to have a problem here because he’s got two very good goalkeepers.
“Dubravka is someone who I have liked and admired for a long time, but Pope is a better player and he will play from the start of the season.
“It’s up to him to keep hold of the gloves. Knowing him like I do, I’ve got no worries that he won’t do that.
“Dubravka will just grow more and more frustrated now if he wants game time.
“His agent can say what he wants, but he’ll be starting the season on the bench.”
In other news, pundit issues “100 per cent” Newcastle United claim after source’s Jesse Lingard reveal.