Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has told Loris Karius to seize his chance to be a Carabao Cup final hero this weekend.
Dubravka's comeback to the first-team scene at St James' Park was immediately halted after his substitute appearance on Saturday night against Liverpool because he is now cup-tied due to play for Manchester United earlier in the season in the same competition. But while Dubravka admits watching on will be tough from the stands, he knows there is still a job to be done for Karius or Gillespie.
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Dubravka said: "It’s a very strange situation for me as well, but that sometimes happens and hopefully it's up to someone else to show they can play in front of 90,000 people. As a group of keepers, we’re all very close to each other, we support each other, so I don’t think that this is going to be a problem.
"I played two games for Manchester United, so I knew that I can't play in the final or be there for the players."
For Dubravka, who played twice for Man United this term, there will be no split loyalties. He said: "I’ve been asked about it a lot, but of course I want Newcastle to win because I’ve spent so many years here and I’m very grateful for the chance the club gave me in English football. "You don’t need to ask me that."
Karius has not played a competitive game for two years since his loan spell from Liverpool with Union Berlin. But Dubravka has faith in the German stopper.
He said: "It’s up to us now to help him as much as we can, to help him be prepared for this game. I’m sure he’ll handle the game well. He’s not played much football, but he’s a very experienced player who looks good in training."
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