Former Manchester United loanee Martin Dubravka has compared Newcastle United's goalkeeper crisis to a movie, following Nick Pope's sending-off during Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at St James' Park.
After falling 2-0 down inside the opening 17 minutes, Newcastle's woes were compounded when shot-stopper Pope was sent-off just five minutes after Cody Gakpo had doubled Liverpool's lead. The former Burnley man, who has been exceptional this season, rushed out of his penalty area to try and beat Mohamed Salah to a punt up field and bizarrely handed the ball, denying the Egyptian a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Referee Anthony Taylor was left with no choice but to brandish a red card in Pope's direction, meaning he will miss next Sunday's Carabao Cup final against United at Wembley. He has played a key role in their run to the final, keeping four clean sheets in five matches, meaning he will no doubt be devastated at the thought of missing out.
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As big a blow as Pope's absence would be in normal circumstances, Newcastle have not been helped by the fact that Dubravka is cup-tied, having played in the competition during his loan spell at Old Trafford earlier this season. Other shot-stopper Karl Darlow also left the club on loan last month, joining Championship side Hull City for the rest of the season.
It means that former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is poised to start at Wembley and make his debut for the club. He joined Newcastle on a free transfer back in September.
Dubravka, speaking to Chronicle Live, said: "This could be a movie. It is a very strange situation.
"I can't play for obvious reasons. Nick got the red card. So now it's up to us to prepare the others mentally because that is the most difficult thing, to be mentally ready for it."
Dubravka stepped off the bench to fill Pope's void after his dismissal against Liverpool to mark his first Premier League appearance of the season. The Slovakian's only other outing since returning to St James' Park from United at the start of January was in the Magpies' shock 2-1 FA Cup third round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
"It was difficult circumstances and it is not easy to come on and play against one of the toughest opponents in the world," continued the former United loanee. "But I was just trying to be there for the guys when they needed me. I just needed to be focused and do my job."
Asked if he had any inside knowledge on the Reds to share, the shot-stopper added: "Yes. But they probably know that I am here and I know some kind of tactics and information.
"If they stick with the plan (the one Dubravka is aware of), who knows? It is hard to say."
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