Eddie Howe has hinted that Loris Karius will start Sunday’s final at Wembley, revealing the former Liverpool stopper is in a ‘good place’ and ‘ready to play’ after ‘training really well.’
No one could have expected Karius to be starting our biggest game in recent memory, but Howe has made it clear that he has every confidence in his ability.
It is not confirmed that the German will start on Sunday, but the boss did add that he’s eager to ‘write another chapter in his career’ after making the headlines for all the wrong reasons in his last final.
The 45-year-old also admitted that he is lucky to have two back-up goalkeeper’s – Karius and Gillepsie – with such ‘experience’, adding that there is ‘no doubt’ about their match fitness.
Although the disaster of the Champions League final will weigh on the minds of many when thinking of Karius, people forget he was a top shot-stopper at Liverpool and once voted the second best in Germany behind Manuel Neuer.
While this situation was completely unprecedented and has taken everyone by surprise, Howe revealed that the 29-year-old is ‘relaxed and excited about what lays ahead’ as he looks set to make his debut for the Magpies. Watch what Howe had to say in the media day footage below:
