Martin Dubravka has admitted that he’s ‘quit’ watching English TV channels and is ‘not listening’ to the negativity around Newcastle United – saying Mike Ashley is ‘not his business’, with him instead preferring to just do his job on the pitch.
The goalkeeper has recalled the moment he nearly ended his football career, hitting his leg with an axe when helping his dad chop wood in Slovakia – with doctors telling him that he wouldn’t have been able to walk again if it had struck him just an inch higher.
Here’s what he’s had to say about Mike Ashley and the fans protests when speaking to the Daily Mail this week:
‘Of course we hear the fans talking about the owner and the team but I am not interested.
‘I have quit the English channels on my TV because if you are not careful these things can get really deep inside your head. Then it’s hard. So I don’t listen to it. Mike Ashley is not my business. Here we just need to do our jobs.’
Now, I do feel he’s been given some unfair abuse for his comments, but this is a FAR better response to fans ‘negativity’ than the one Lascelles gave us after signing his big new contract yesterday.
Dubravka then shared the following story about his childhood in his homeland, recalling the moment his football career almost ended before it had really begun – all whilst trying to impress his dad by chopping wood!
‘I could see my father chopping so I hid myself and tried to do it too,’
‘I tried to make them proud. “I will bring the wood for you. I will do that”.
‘But I hit the axe in my leg. The doctor said had it been an inch higher it would have finished my career, I wouldn’t walk.
“The pain came with the stitches. Oh my god. Later in childhood, I fell on my elbow and I wouldn’t let them stitch it. So I still have the stone stuck in there now.’
He might be a safe pair of hands in goal, but I think it’s best we don’t let him anywhere near an axe!
Dubravka has been revelation since signing. He’s excelled on the pitch, fast becoming one of the most reliable and underrated goalkeepers in the league, but also appears to be a valuable asset and natural leader off the field.
After a clean sheet last weekend, let’s hope he can help us to an all important win tomorrow!
