Loris Karius, Newcastle United’s third-choice goalkeeper, could make a dramatic return to the Champions League for their must-win game against AC Milan.
The 30-year-old has not played in the competition since his two blunders handed Real Madrid a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the 2018 final. However, an injury scare for Martin Dubravka — who is himself deputising for the injured Nick Pope — could open the way for Karius to start in Wednesday night’s crucial final group game at St James’ Park. Newcastle need to win to stand a chance of reaching the round of 16.
Karius has played only once for Newcastle: in the 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester United in February. The Germany goalkeeper, who moved to Tyneside as a free agent in September 2022, is on standby after Dubravka, who has played in Newcastle’s past two Premier League games, missed training on Monday with a back injury.
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Pope, who has topped Opta’s “goals prevented” metric in the Champions League this season, dislocated his shoulder in a 1-0 win against Manchester United at the start of December. The England goalkeeper has undergone surgery and will be out for at least four months.
When asked if Dubravka would be fit to play against Milan, Eddie Howe replied: “That is slightly unclear.”
The Newcastle head coach was then asked about changing goalkeepers and said: “It’s not a position I want to rotate. Every team benefits from a settled goalkeeper and a settled back four. That has been my way of working in a defensive structure. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”
Dubravka, 34, has conceded seven goals in the defeats by Everton and Tottenham Hotspur since coming into the side but another change of goalkeeper would be disruptive for Newcastle, who must beat Milan in their final group F match and hope that Paris Saint-Germain fail to win away to Borussia Dortmund, who have already qualified for the knockouts.
Karius inexplicably threw the ball against Karim Benzema, who tapped in to give Real the lead, before letting Gareth Bale’s long-range effort slip through his fingers as Liverpool lost the 2018 final in Kyiv. The goalkeeper later said he had been concussed after being elbowed by Sergio Ramos when the score was 0-0. Karius fell out of favour at Liverpool and had loan spells at Besiktas and Union Berlin before joining Newcastle.
When asked if Karius is ready, should Dubravka’s injury rule him out, Callum Wilson, the Newcastle striker, said: “They’re all top goalkeepers. They will give you a run for your money in training during finishing practice. Whoever is between the sticks, I’m sure they’ll be more than capable.”
Howe expressed his frustration that a succession of injuries has prevented his side doing themselves justice in their first Champions League campaign for 20 years. Yet they still have a chance if results go their way.
“We are as hungry as you can be,” Howe said. “We are fiercely determined to try and go through, so we want to keep a positive feeling and positive momentum with our season. Every fibre and part of us wants to do that. We are looking forward to this test. It has got all the hallmarks of being a very special night.
“I’ve really enjoyed the Champions League – my only frustration is that we have not had the freedom to attack the competition as we would have liked [because of injuries].
“That’s my only feeling I’m left with that is negative. The tournament itself is special, the places we have been are incredible, the stadiums, the atmospheres and the experiences we have had at home have all been memorable. We have one more game to go and we have to make this as memorable as possible.
“My message to the fans is to make this a magical European night. They can only do so much; we have to do our bit to make it that.”
Newcastle would have the safety net of falling into the Europa League if they finish third, which a win against Milan would guarantee. If Newcastle do make it to the Champions League round of 16, it would boost their income by between £10 million-£15 million. By contrast, winning the Europa League would bring in £20 million.
It seems apt that Howe will turn to Wilson in his hour of need. A decade ago, Wilson scored a penalty for Coventry City in a 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra in a League One game that was played in front of a crowd of only 1,616 at Sixfields. At the end of that season, Howe signed him for Bournemouth.
“We will leave blood, sweat and tears out there,” Wilson, who has started only one of the five previous Champions League games but is fit now after a hamstring injury, said. “It’s what we do every time we step over the white line and for us as a football club it’s about having no regrets. We have an opportunity in front of us and all we can do is focus on Milan.”
Newcastle (probable; 4-3-3): M Dubravka/L Karius — K Trippier, J Lascelles, F Schär, T Livramento — S Longstaff, B Guimarães, Joelinton — M Almirón, C Wilson, A Gordon.
AC Milan (probable; 4-3-3): M Maignan — D Calabria, F Tomori, T Hernández, A Florenzi — R Loftus-Cheek, T Reijnders, Y Musah — S Chukwueze, O Giroud, R Leão.
Referee Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Newcastle United v AC Milan
Wednesday, kick-off 8pm
TV TNT Sport 1, 7pm
