Newcastle United will probably have to turn to Loris Karius for Carabao Cup final

Loris Karius is likely to need to play in his first game in nearly two years in next week's Carabao Cup final, after Nick Pope was sent off against Liverpool.

In eight days time, Newcastle United will attempt to win their first major piece of silverware in nearly 70 years, when they take on Manchester United.

During their trophyless years, the Magpies haven't even been in a final since 1999, when they lost the FA Cup final on their way to the same opposition they'll face at Wembley on February 26th.

Fans were getting anxious earlier this week with claims that referee David Coote would be against them in north London, but that's not actually the case.

However, Eddie Howe now does have an issue for the final, after Pope was sent off in the first half of Saturday's Premier League game with Liverpool.

After going 2-0 down early on, Pope attempted to stop Mohamed Salah scoring on the break, but missed a header whilst outside of his box and handled the ball, earning himself a red card.

That means Newcastle's number one will be suspended. On Saturday he was replaced by Martin Dubravka, who came on for Elliot Anderson, but that can't be the case for next week.

Dubravka was on loan with Erik ten Hag's side earlier in the season, and played in the last 16 game of the Carabao Cup against Burnley, in December, meaning he's cup tied for next week.

All of which means Howe will have to turn to either former Liverpool keeper Karius, who last played a competitive game for Union Berlin against Hoffenheim, in February 2021, nearly two years ago.

Karius is yet to play a competitive game for Newcastle. Image: Alamy

The 29-year-old spent two seasons on loan at Besiktas before his stint back in Germany, and before that he played for Liverpool.

That means the final will be his first for an English team since he lost the 2018 Champions League final with Jurgen Klopp's team, to Real Madrid.

He made two errors in that game, and conceded a third to Gareth Bale's unreal bicycle kick, before the Reds signed Alisson the following summer.

If not Karius, then Howe will have to turn to former Motherwell and Carlisle United goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, who also hasn't played in a couple of years.

Gillespie has been at St James' for three seasons but only appeared in the Carabao in his first campaign, and hasn't appeared in any other games.

Karl Darlow is currently out on loan, so he is another that the manager can't turn towards for the final at Wembley.

Ironically a Newcastle goalkeeper is guaranteed to pick up a winner's medal next week, with Dubravka's appearance for Ten Hag's club meaning he'll get one should they be successful next weekend.

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