V Palermo (2nd November 2006) Having signed from ADO Den Haag at the age of just 17 years old, Tim Krul found himself thrown in at the deep end just a year later when injuries to both Shay Given and Steve Harper forced him into the team for the UEFA Cup tie against Palermo. The Italians - not doubt buoyed by his appearance - were stunned when the teenager pulled off two stunning saves to keep a clean sheet and earn himself the game's plaudits. His shot-stopping ability was there for all to see, and it was obvious Newcastle had unearthed a gem. Did It Last? Having only been brought in as cover, Krul found himself down the pecking order again after injuring himself in the warm-up to the return leg against Palermo, and went out on loan to Falkirk and Carlisle before Shay Given's departure and Newcastle's relegation pushed him first to back-up and then to number one. He's been there since - with stints out injured breaking up his command of the shirt - and while there are questions over his distribution and occasionally his decision-making, he is a hugely talented 'keeper who Newcastle would do well to keep hold of. Inevitably, he's also one of the club's most saleable commodities, so his future remains to be seen.
