Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed the imminent signing of Jack Butland and stressed the club had to move for an experienced back-up goalkeeper to avoid the risk of "killing" their season.
Butland, 29, underwent a medical at United's Carrington training complex on Thursday ahead of signing on loan from Crystal Palace for the rest of the season after Newcastle recalled 'keeper Martin Dubravka from his season-long loan.
Tom Heaton, 36, will likely play second fiddle to David de Gea in the FA Cup third round tie against Everton on Friday night but Butland could be involved in the League Cup quarter-final against Charlton on Tuesday.
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"Martin was recalled and now to set up we need three experienced goalkeepers," Ten Hag said. "We have some young ones and they do well but we have so many games so you need three good goalies in training.
"But also when problems are coming you need experience in goal to get your goals, what you are aiming for.
"What he (Butland)'s bringing? I'm really happy with David, it's quite clear, he's our No.1, he's a really good performer but what I say is there's always something that can happen with David as well and you have to be prepared for that so you don't have one experienced goalkeeper and you are unlucky."
In his final season with Ajax, Ten Hag encountered goalkeeping issues when Andre Onana was suspended for a doping ban, Maarten Stekelenburg sustained a long-term injury and then-38-year-old Remko Pasveer was drafted into the side.
"Last year, I had a situation with Ajax we had three goalies injured and you don't want to come a situation that, when you come to the end of the season, you play for trophies and you have to put in a young keeper, you can't expect it from the young goalkeeper but you also kill your season. That's what you have to be prepared for."
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