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Matty Hewitt

Ben Foster warns Manchester United Carabao Cup final 'no walk in the park' if Loris Karius starts

Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has warned his former side the Carabao Cup final will be no walk in the park. There's a general consensus on social media that the balance has shifted in the Red Devils favour after Nick Pope was sent off against Liverpool, ruling him out of the final at the weekend.

Martin Dubravka is cup-tied having played for Erik Ten Hag's side earlier in the season, leaving either Karius or Mark Gillespie to start at Wembley. Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has kept his team selection close to his chest ahead of the final, not giving away any indication as to who could start.

It would be the first competitive action for either goalkeeper, with neither having played a first-team game in over two-years. Foster, who could have signed for the Magpies earlier this season, believes Karius has unfairly carried round the tag of 'calamity goalkeeper' after making two mistakes for Liverpool in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid back in 2018.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag plays Sir Alex Ferguson trump card ahead of Carabao Cup Final clash with Newcastle

Foster told talkSPORT: "It's a bit of an awkward one really. I think people need to remember and realise Loris Karius is still a very, very good goalkeeper. I think he's been tarnished with this brush of a 'calamity keeper' ever since he made those mistakes for Liverpool in that Champions League Cup Final.

"I think it's probably really affected him as well. Obviously he had to leave Liverpool and I think he's carried that burden and that weight of that horrible calamity goalkeeper thin with him.

"He's back there now and like I said, he is a proper goalie. I think people need to realise he is still a proper goalkeeper, it's not even a given that he's going to be playing, they've got Mark Gillespie there who I know is a very good goalkeeper himself.

"I'd just like to see, if it is Loris Karius that does play, I'd like to see him have a really steady, solid game. Because, I think everybody thinks it's just going to be a walk in the park if he's in goal and that won't be the case whatsoever because he is still a real quality player."

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