Rafa Benitez has suggested that Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe already "knows" who between Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie will replace Nick Pope for the club's Carabao Cup final clash with Manchester United.
Pope was shown a straight red card by Anthony Taylor for handling the ball outside of his area during the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. The dismissal means that Newcastle will be without the 30-year-old shot-stopper when they come up against Man United at Wembley next week.
Martin Dubravka is cup-tied and Karl Darlow has been sent out on loan to Hull City, meaning that one of Karius or Gillespie is left to start between the sticks for the Magpies on February 26. Howe seemingly now has a difficult decision to make, but Benitez believes it is one that the Newcastle boss has already come to terms with.
