England have announced that Man Utd stopper Dean Henderson has withdrawn from Euro 2020 with a hip injury.
As a result, Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale has taken his place and been called up to Gareth Southgate’s three lions squad – a move that will be a bitter pill to swallow for one Newcastle United player in particular.
That man is Karl Darlow. He was name checked by the England boss earlier in the season and tipped for a call-up at one stage, however those hopes faded when Slovakia star Martin Dubravka returned between the sticks over the second half of 2020/21.
The likes of Jordan Pickford and Sam Johnstone are clearly ahead of the former Nottingham Forest stopper in the pecking order, but many believe that Darlow would’ve been stepping into the England squad today had he not been dropped by Steve Bruce.
Another player on our books who will be looking at today’s news and wondering ‘what if’ is Freddie Woodman.
Southgate has spoken highly of him on several occasions and knows him better than most following his rise up the youth ranks, so he could’ve been in with a shout after another impressive loan spell at Swansea.
It wasn’t long ago he was invited to train with the senior side at St George’s Park, not to mention the fact no Championship goalkeeper kept more clean sheets than the talented 24-year-old.
His time will come, but for Darlow this will be a real kick in the teeth. He wouldn’t have played at Euro 2020 had he been the man to step in today, but it would’ve been an unforgettable experience and career high to have linked up with the national side this summer.
All things considered, I expect him to push for a move this summer so he makes sure this doesn’t happen again – and Woodman may not be too far behind him should we fail to offer him a clear path to first-team football over the coming years.
As for the England side itself, it’s a blow to see Henderson head home, with many believing he should’ve been starting instead of the often-erratic Jordan Pickford.
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Saughet bench D Henderson that is why many March ????
Usman(Quote)
Absolutely.
Smileypooemoji(Quote)
I suffered a horrific injury when I was 17 that topped me playing semi professionally.
I blame Steve Bruce too!
BykerBill(Quote)