Let’s take the heat off Dubravka
RAFA Benitez admits he would rather not be talking about Martin Dubravka winning man of the match every week in the Premier League.
The Slovakia international was in fantastic form in the 1-1 draw against Everton after making stunning stops to keep out Cenk Tosun, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott after facing 19 shots on Merseyside.
Yet Benitez is hoping others can take the heat of the goalkeeper in the coming weeks and months and dropped a hint his side needs reinforcements in the January window.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw with the Toffees, Benitez said: “It is good to have a good goalkeeper.
“I would also like strikers who score goals and then we will not need to talk about the goalkeeper too much.
“Martin is doing a great job for us.
“He is a good professional and hopefully he can carry on.
“I don’t want to see him too busy every game but if he is busy he is making good saves to keep the team in the game.”
Despite what was deemed a positive result at Everton, United’s failure to win extended the club’s miserable run in midweek fixtures.
Newcastle have now drawn nine and lost nine played on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, with their last midweek win coming back in 2013 against Stoke City – a 5-1 thrashing of the Potters.