I think Eddie Howe has just made his most controversial Newcastle United decision to date – it has to pay off

I believe Eddie Howe has recently made his most controversial decision at Newcastle United to date, and it is imperative that it proves advantageous. Martin Dubravka’s new contract at Newcastle was announced a week ago.

This contract is a compensation for his loyalty to the club, despite a lucrative offer from Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia, and his on-field performances, which have contributed to the team’s success in 12 of the 15 matches he has started this season. However, Dubravka’s new contract has coincided with his departure from the team in favour of Pope, who is now fully recovered.

Newcastle’s performance suffered during Pope’s absence last season, prompting a sincere demand for his return from injury. This time, however, the situation has been entirely different, resulting in a genuine selection dilemma for head coach Eddie Howe in the custodian position. Newcastle does not have a designated ‘number one’ custodian, according to Howe, who emphasised that Pope and Dubravka are in a weekly competition for the starting position. by TaboolaSponsored Links

However, the 32-year-old’s dislocated shoulder in December 2023 has served as a pivotal moment in his life. Pope has encountered difficulty in recapturing the form that he exhibited during his initial 18 months on Tyneside since regaining his fitness. Newcastle has conceded with the first shot in each of their last two matches since Pope’s return to the team. The custodian is arguably at fault for both. On Sunday, his positioning was brought into question during Nottingham Forest’s opener by

Callum Hudson-Odoi, and his reactions were a topic of debate when Liverpool took the lead at Anfield on Wednesday night with a goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. A player who was previously regarded as one of the most proficient shot-stoppers in the Premier League by Howe is currently experiencing difficulty in stopping shots. In the four Premier League games preceding his most recent injury, he has conceded 12 goals, resulting in a save percentage of 43%.

Pope’s return to the squad mere weeks prior to the Carabao Cup final is perhaps Howe’s most contentious team selection decision to date, given his well-documented difficulties in distributing the ball with his feet. Dubravka is frustrated by the bold decision, which increases the burden and attention on Pope’s performances in anticipation of one of the most significant games in the club’s recent history.

Newcastle faced a goalkeeping dilemma at Wembley during their previous visit, which was primarily due to Pope’s red card against Liverpool and Dubravka’s loan to Manchester United. Howe was essentially at the mercy of these circumstances. This time, the situation is largely self-inflicted; however,

Howe will appreciate the degree of control he has over it. By choosing Pope for the Carabao Cup final run-in, he has now established a comfortable bed for himself and Newcastle. In a game where Newcastle is anticipated to be under pressure and facing shots, Pope is the most advantageous choice if he is completely match-sharp and performing at his highest level.