Morale boosting international clean sheet and three points for Newcastle United goalkeeper

2 months ago 22

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A morale boosting night for Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Having impressed for Slovakia in the Euros this summer, it was more of the same, as Dubravka kept a valuable clean sheet and a goal from teammate Suslov on 70 minutes got the win.

Slovakia playing their opening Nations League group match away in Estonia and the only negative, a booking for Martin Dubravka in the fifth minute of added time.

With Nick Pope returning to action for the final game of last season and obviously set to start this season as Newcastle United number one, it was widely assumed that finally after six and a half years at NUFC, Martin Dubravka would move on for regular first team football.

James Trafford was again confidently reported as set to come in as the new number two and competition for Nick Pope, however, that didn’t happen, for whatever reason.

The net result then is that despite two new goalkeepers signed and Newcastle currently with five senior keepers, Martin Dubravka remains number two, with John Ruddy appearing to be number three, then Mark Gillespie also given another year’s contract.

Vlachodimos was of course bought seemingly only to help allow Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest stay within PSR limits, as Elliot Anderson went in the opposite direction. The Greece number one is expected to go out on loan this month to a club in a country where their transfer window is still open, with Belgium and Anderlecht claimed to be the most likely destination.

Martin Dubravka and Slovakia are in League C Group 1 of the Nations League and find themselves just behind Sweden after the opening round of matches.

Alexander Isak scored two last night against Azerbaijan and then won a penalty, only for bizarrely Gyokeres to take that 80th minute spot-kick to put Sweden 3-0 up. The home side getting a consolation goal late on.

So this is how League C Group 1 now looks on Friday morning:

League C Group 1 6 Sept 2024

Sunday sees Martin Dubravka and Slovakia at home to Azerbaijan, whilst Alexander Isak and Sweden are home to Estonia, before both players fly back to start preparing for Newcastle’s game at Wolves a week on Sunday (15 September).

This is the September 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 5 September

Azerbaijan 1 Sweden 3

Alexander Isak on fire in this Nations League match. Scoring the first two goals and then bizarrely denied his hat-trick.

Alexander Isak winning the penalty but instead of the Newcastle United striker taking the spot-kick to finish off a great personal match, it was Gyokeres who took the 80th minute spot-kick to put Sweden 3-0 up. The home side getting a consolation goal late on.

Estonia v Slovakia (Martin Dubravka) Nations League

Friday 6 September

France v Italy (Sandro Tonali) Nations League

Uruguay v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Saturday)

Brazil v Equador (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Saturday)

Northern Ireland U21s v England U21s (Lewis Hall) U21 Euros group qualifier

Republic of Ireland U21s v Turkey U21s (Alex Murphy) U21 Euros group qualifier

Iceland U21s v Denmark U21s (Will Osula) U21s Euros group qualifier

Saturday 7 September

Republic of Ireland v England (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League

Sunday 8 September

Sweden v Estonia (Alexander Isak) Nations League