NEWCASTLE United’s Corbridge-born manager Steve Bruce has tipped goalkeeper Karl Darlow to shine if given a chance to fill the gloves of first choice Martin Dubravka.

Bruce was ready to throw the 29-year-old into the Premier League firing line for the first time since February 2018, but the Coronavirus outbreak prompted the suspension of fixtures.

Darlow thought his opportunity had arrived when Dubravka, who has 79 consecutive top-flight games under his belt, was ruled out for at least a month with medial ligament damage, but will now have to remain patient as the enforced lay-off allows the Slovakia international extra time to recover.

Bruce said: “Darlow’s been waiting all these years. Look, he’s played in the cups and played very, very well. He’s a very good goalkeeper, so if he gets his chance, I have no problem that he’ll be a very good deputy for him.”