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Newcastle: Manager Eddie Howe has admitted he will have to cut his Newcastle United squad this month – with one of his goalkeepers looking most at risk.
The Magpies currently have four senior goalkeepers, with summer signing Nick Pope taking the No. 1 from Martin Dubravka at the start of the Premier League season.
In addition to this, former No. 1 player Caldalo and former Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie are two other senior players in the position who currently find themselves outside the framework of the first team.
While Newcastle named four goalkeepers to their 25-man Premier League squad at the start of last season – Dubravka, Dallow, Gillespie and the recently departed Freddie Woodman – due to illness and injury Sick, Howe admits doing so this season seems unlikely, especially with at least two more outfield players still on the horizon before the transfer window closes on September 1.
When asked if he would leave, he said: “It’s too early to say. I don’t know. Of course, I don’t want anyone to leave, but I’m well aware that four is a difficult number to carry.
“My desire is to do that, but obviously I also have to think about the players. Hopefully we can make the right decision.”
While Pope leaves Burnley for the Premier League, no doubt committed to the first team ahead of this winter’s World Cup, there is still a degree of surprise on Tyneside that fan-favorite Dubravka is not at the Howe retained his place in the starting 11.
The manager says it will not be an easy decision to pick between the two teams who starts the season, with Howe keen to praise Newcastle’s weekend substitute.
“It was a very, very, very difficult decision,” Howe said.
“I can pick from three good goalkeepers, Karl, Nick and Martin, who played really well last season.
“Of course my decision to pick Nick was not a reflection of him (Dubravka). It was more of a reflection of Nick and how good I think he is.
“I think he’s very good (on his debut against Nottingham Forest), he’s capable of crosses. He controls his box well and plays well, so I’m very happy with him. He doesn’t have much with his hands relationship, which is a good sign.
“There’s also competition in that position and I think that strength will help us through the season.”
Another big decision for Howe was to ignore the Magpies’ summer signing Sven Botman.
The Netherlands youth international arrived at St James’ Park this summer after a six-month pursuit of the player, with Bertman widely expected to play directly alongside weekend striker Fabian Schal.
But Howe opted to sign Dan Burn as centre-back in January, rewarding him with a great end-of-season performance with the jersey.
Explaining the decision, Howe said: “I have to say, they were great in the second half of last season, and Jamal (Russells), who played a bigger role.
“For me, all three centre-backs are great, but we need more depth and we can’t just rely on three this season. Federico Fernandes has an injury problem, so we feel that’s what we need Reinforced position.
“Sven is our long-term goal. We’re happy to sign him. But I think this period, no matter how long before he gets a chance to start, is going to give him a good world. He’ll learn about the league and the speed, and I have a lot of respect for him as a player. Players have no doubts.
“He’s going to be the top player for this football club, but there is a real competition for places. Dan, Fabian and Jamaal – they don’t give up their shirts lightly. It’s a fight I love to watch. Knowing I have the quality It’s definitely a good sign for this season.”
Newcastle, meanwhile, will be without midfielder Jon Jo Shelvey for much of the first half of the season after he underwent surgery to treat a hamstring problem.
Shelvey limped out of United’s 3-2 friendly loss to Benfica last month and travelled to London at the weekend for surgery to fix the problem.
Howe knows how much the veteran ex-Liverpool and England player will suffer – which could even affect his transfer strategy in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Speaking of Shelvey’s absence following the Magpies’ 2-0 win over Forest at the weekend, Howe said: “We had to work without Jonjo because he was injured. We worked really hard on all the principles of the game, so The midfield dynamics are very different without Jonjo.
“Jonjo is such a unique individual and player. He can pass from anywhere on the pitch and create a goal almost anywhere he receives it.
“Bruno Guimaraes was very different but still just as effective. He was very good today. He had a tough job because he was going to pin Jesse Lingard so it was an interesting fight and I think Bruno did it very good.”
Newcastle currently have Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, Joe Willock and youngsters Elliott Anderson and Marty Longstaff available in midfield, but it is understood that They have asked Chelsea about the availability of Conor Gallagher in recent days.
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