NEWCASTLE NOW STUCK WITH CALAMITY KARIUS

YOU’D never label Newcastle as in crisis when they’re fourth in the Premier League and in the final of the Carabao Cup, but their recent stumble descended into a full-on pratfall here. Goalkeeper Nick Pope was left picking grass from his teeth. When he finally looked up after handling outside his penalty area, he received a red card that ruled him out of Sunday’s showpiece against Manchester United at Wembley. But that’s only half the story. The reason some folk are talking ‘crisis’ is Pope’s replacement, Loris Karius, who last played a competitive match two years ago. Sportsmail stood with the 29-year-old German outside Newcastle’s dressing room in Saudi Arabia in December. He had just played 45 minutes in a 5-0 friendly win over Al-Hilal, and had done well. But he could not remember his last game. It was, for the record, a 1-1 draw for Union Berlin against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga in February, 2021. That night in Riyadh, there was hope of him making his Newcastle debut the following week against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup. He was not even on the bench and, in the two months since, has not made a matchday squad. Karius (pictured) is currently Newcastle’s fourth-choice keeper. So, how has this happened to such a wealthy club before their biggest match in more than 20 years? By allowing understudies Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow stage time elsewhere, they have ended up with a stand-in last seen fluffing his lines in the grandest theatre of all, the Champions League final. In 2018, for Liverpool, Karius was at fault for two Real Madrid goals in a 3-1 defeat. He never played for the club again. A redemption story could well unfold this week, but Eddie Howe would far rather Dubravka or Darlow were available. The former joined Manchester United on loan in the summer, only to return after an unhappy spell, and is now cup-tied. Darlow was also keen to head out on loan and moved to Hull on deadline day. Howe was not entirely comfortable with either deal. Newcastle lost an important match to Liverpool on Saturday, but it also felt like they went a goal down in the cup final, such is the weight of Pope’s loss. Fans will still travel in confidence given their faith in Howe, but you can’t ignore a run of one win in seven in the Premier League and the failure to score more than one goal in a game since Boxing Day. Their forwards have gone cold and even those at the back froze against Liverpool, who had already scored twice through Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo before Pope was sent off in the 22nd minute. Newcastle played well thereafter, but didn’t score. Given they’ll be facing Marcus Rashford on Sunday, the likelihood is they’ll need at least a couple of goals if they’re to win at Wembley. Dubravka came on against Liverpool and reminded us why the Magpies are well stocked in the goalkeeping department, if only in the Premier League. ‘It’s the worst timing that it could possibly be,’ he said of Pope’s suspension. ‘It’s like the script from a movie, so incredible. Now, we want a happy ending. ‘But it’s so devastating for Nick, who deserved to play in the club’s first final for so long. We all feel for him, but what can you say to him? It’s such a sad situation.’