Newcastle star ‘says farewell to the fans’ – Eddie Howe is fuming

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is fuming about the possibility of losing Martin Dubravka during the January transfer window.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that Dubravka “looked like he was saying goodbye” following their win against Arsenal on Tuesday (7 January).

The 35-year-old kept a lean sheet against the Gunners after being handed only his eighth start of the season.

Dubravka has impressed when given a chance throughout this campaign, with that being his sixth clean sheet.

However, that is expected to have been his final game for the Magpies as he is set to make a move to Saudi Arabia before the close of the January transfer window, and Football Insider revealed that Newcastle are making a move for James Trafford to replace him.

Martin Dubravka has ended his Newcastle career

“Nick Pope’s injured, so you look at the squad that they’ve got,” Robinson told Football Insider.

“We saw the game this week against Arsenal, he looked very emotional afterwards, Dubravka.

“He looked like he was saying goodbye, didn’t he?

“He looked like he was playing his final game for Newcastle.

“Eddie Howe was quite pertinent in his interview afterwards in his post-match press conference.

“He said, ‘Look, if it’s down to me, I don’t want to lose the player.’

“So that gave you little insight into he’s not really having much choice as to who’s leaving the football club at the moment because of PSR and FFP rules.

“James Trafford’s a good option.

“He struggled a little bit in the Premier League last year though with Burnley, his decision-making at times let him down.

“This year in the championship he’s been excellent again so he’s certainly going to be a goalkeeper who’s on their radars.