Newcastle’s Joelinton reacts to Karl Darlow after ‘massive’ Leeds United development
Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has taken to Instagram to send a message over the club’s latest result, prompting a reaction from Newcastle star Joelinton.
After the disappointment of losing the Championship play-off final last season, the Whites are aiming to put that right by winning automatic promotion this season, with Darlow finally playing a part in that.
Having moved to Elland Road from Newcastle back in the 2023 summer transfer window, the Wales international initially found himself as the club’s second choice goalkeeper.
But a number of mistakes from Leeds’ number one Illan Meslier led to fans calling for Darlow to come into the side, a change Farke has now made with positive results.
Karl Darlow keeps key clean sheet
The goalkeeper has now started the last four Championship games for Daniel Farke’s side, and has made a positive impression in that time.
Darlow quickly won over Leeds fans with his command of his area, and has now helped them to three straight wins.
On Friday (19 April), the 34-year-old kept a clean sheet as the Yorkshire club claimed a 1-0 win over Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
| Leeds United last five games | Result |
| Swansea (H) | Drew 2-2 |
| Luton (A) | Drew 1-1 |
| Middlesbrough (A) | Won 1-0 |
| Preston (H) | Won 2-1 |
| Oxford (A) | Won 1-0 |
That result means Leeds will secure promotion to the Premier League on Monday (21 April) if they beat Stoke, and Sheffield United fail to win at Burnley.
Taking to Instagram to react to that win over Oxford, Darlow wrote: “Massive win to start our Easter weekend.”
In response, his former Newcastle teammate Joelinton liked the post, as did several members of the current Leeds squad such as Dan James, Joe Rothwell and Pascal Struijk.
Leeds United almost there
Football Insider Verdict
While there have been some notorious collapses from the Elland Road club in the past, it feels as though they will surely get over the line this season.
Leeds have found a way to grind out wins in the promotion race at just the right time, and that has put them in an excellent position to secure promotion back to the Premier League.
They also have some fixtures between now and the end of the season where they will feel they can pick up the points they need to confirm their return to the Premier League.
The more commanding and reliable presence of Darlow in goal certainly seems to be helping with that, keeping the defence in front of him calm.
It will therefore be interesting to see what his future holds in the summer, with Leeds understood to be planning to sign a new first-choice goalkeeper in the transfer window.