Not for the first time in the club's history, Newcastle United have a problem. With their first team squad already being down to its bare bones, they've now also lost their only two senior goalkeepers to fairly serious looking injuries. Tim Krul's out until mid January, and Rob Elliott has made an existing thigh strain worse by playing through it. If all that wasn't bad enough, Newcastle's festive fixture list is, at best, hellish. With Chelsea dispatched their next opponents are Arsenal, Tottenham, Sunderland, Manchester United and Everton, with the return leg at Chelsea and the FA Cup third round all awaiting in the new year. Jak Alnwick's mam won't be sleeping a wink this Christmas. With the transfer window shut, the Premier League do offer provision for clubs in such a situation to apply for an emergency loan. However with Karl Darlow registered as a senior goalkeeper in Newcastle's squad, they wouldn't usually qualify - but his lack of a recall clause from his loan at Nottingham Forrest means there's considerable room for foot stomping and tantrum throwing. Which usually works. So, should Newcastle be granted permission, there are a number of 2nd and 3rd choice custodians who could not only save a variety of shots, but Newcastle's December as well.
WhatCulture's Managing Editor and Chief Reporter | Previously seen in Vice, Esquire, FourFourTwo, Sabotage Times, Loaded, The Set Pieces, and Mundial Magazine
