Newcastle United were forced to explore football's free agency last week after a training injury to Karl Darlow left the Magpies short in the goalkeeping department. With the transfer window not long closed, there wasn't a wide range of options for Eddie Howe to mull over as the club decided on former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius.
Speculation suggests former Watford goalkeeper-turned-YouTuber Ben Foster was another player identified by Newcastle as they scoured the market for a suitable Darlow replacement. The 39-year-old has been without a club since leaving the Hornets after their relegation last summer.
While only Karius will be receiving a taste for St James' Park this season, both he and Foster clearly have fond memories of playing there over the years. Karius, who was unveiled on Monday evening, admitted he was relishing stepping out at the stadium where he enjoyed playing as an opponent in his very first interview.
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"I am excited to step out at the stadium and play in front of these fans," he told NUFC TV. "I've played here against them and it was always tough. It was always a great crowd. So I'm really exciting to be a part of them now and to enjoy it [playing at St James' Park] at the other end."
At the age of 39, Foster is unlikely to step out onto the hallowed north east turf in the final years of his career. But the former Manchester United stopper is another who has publicly admitted his admiration for the venue in the past.
Speaking on his Fozcast YouTube channel, Foster said: "The best stadium to play at as a footballer I think is Newcastle. Honestly, St James' Park, when that place is rocking, what an atmosphere. It's a different atmosphere to most stadiums because it's not necessarily an intimidating atmosphere.
"When we played them a couple of weeks ago, they went 1-0 up in the 50th minute and the place was rocking. The noise is incredible, it's such a big, massive stadium. That one stand, where the away fans sit is massive where you can see the away fans at the top.
"The noise is outrageous, but it's not an intimidating noise. I've played in places like Celtic away and the atmosphere scares you. I've got to say Newcastle is, all being told the best stadium for atmosphere."
With Newcastle on the up once more and Wor Flags doing tremendous work on the terraces, St James' Park is again the fortress it once was. Eddie Howe, along with first-team stars at Newcastle, have heaped praise on the supporters for their help in bringing the club's 'weapon' back in recent months.
“That’s a huge weapon for us. We have to use as much as we can. We have to inspire our crowd," Howe said earlier this year. “We have to have the supporters come to the ground desperate to see us play and desperate to know what’s going to happen in the match and almost guarantee a team that’s going all out to win the game by playing the way we want too."
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