SUPER MAC
A HUGE well done for winning an Under-20 World Cup winners’ medal to both Freddie Woodman and Adam Armstrong.
It must have been the greatest occasion of their young lives. Two Newcastle United players who have won a global tournament at the age of just 20 is quite some achievement.
Now after those huge highs comes the problem for them both.
When you have a major success like that, what you need is to move straight into the next challenge.
Yet what is the challenge Newcastle are going to offer them both?
Particularly Woodman, who has shot into the national consciousness.
There are five senior goalkeepers on the Magpies’ books – albeit Matz Sels has gone on loan to Anderlecht – and Rafa Benitez also seems to want to sign another goalkeeper.
Tim Krul is returning from the Netherlands, Karl Darlow had an excellent season, Rob Elliot has come back strongly – and you would imagine all three of those would be ahead of Woodman in the pecking order.
This young goalkeeper needs a massive challenge to keep his form going. If he does not get that challenge, his rapid rise could quickly stagnate.
He is on a high right now. You want to capitalise on that, not let him stagnate.
If Benitez is not going to look to give him serious football this season then I think there is no option but to send him on loan to a club where he is going to be guaranteed first-team football.
Woodman was a saviour in that final with a magnificent penalty stop.
If I was Rafa, I would not want to lose Woodman on a permanent basis but I would be happy to let him go temporarily.
The last thing this lad needs is