Newcastle United handed major boost ahead of Leeds clash | OneFootball

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Football FanCast

·16 September 2021

Newcastle United handed major boost ahead of Leeds clash

Article image:Newcastle United handed major boost ahead of Leeds clash

Newcastle United have been handed a major boost regarding the fitness of Karl Darlow ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by the Mirror (via The Shields Gazette), who claim that, following a long battle with illness, the Magpies goalkeeper looks set to return to Steve Bruce’s starting XI for the visit of Leeds United on Friday evening.


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The report continues to state that the 30-year-old returned to training over the September international break, and looks set to take the place of Freddie Woodman between the Newcastle United sticks.

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Darlow

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Bruce will be buzzing

Considering just how poor Woodman has been for Newcastle so far this season, the fact that Darlow looks set to finally make a return to Steve Bruce’s starting XI is sure to have the 60-year-old manager buzzing.

Indeed, over his four Premier League appearances this term, the 24-year-old Woodman has shipped 12 goals – an average of three a game – made one error leading to a goal and has averaged 2.5 saves per match.

These returns have seen the £9m-rated shot-stopper average a highly disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.03, ranking him as the Magpies’ second-worst performer in the top flight of English football.

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As such, the return of a player who earned a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.92 over his 25 Premier League appearances last season in the shape of Darlow is sure to provide Bruce’s chances of securing a positive result against Marcelo Bielsa’s side on Friday evening with a significant boost, as well as being something that is sure to delight the St. James’ Park faithful.

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