I have found my hunger again – Krul

TIM Krul admits he was a ‘bit too comfortable’ at Newcastle and has rediscovered his ‘real hunger’ at Norwich.

The Dutchman spent 11 years at St James’ Park and was the club’s first-choice goalkeeper before suffering a serious knee injury on international duty in 2015.

Krul never played for the Magpies again and following loan spells at Ajax, AZ and Brighton – the latter was made permanent – he has been at the heart of Norwich’s promotion push in the Championship.

So what has changed since training with Newcastle’s youngsters in those final months under Rafa Benitez?

Krul said: “Maybe I felt a bit too comfortable at Newcastle.

“I found the real hunger I now have again in the last couple of years. I am fresher and better than ever.

“I am grateful I have played 33 games this season.

“At Newcastle I lived more in a daze, although I experienced big, beautiful things. I cannot wait to show people things are good with me.”

Krul tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the Netherlands in October, 2015 and spent 54 weeks on the sidelines before returning to action with Ajax in a practice match. The goalkeeper had been Steve McClaren’s first-choice stopper at the time and the injury clearly took its toll on him.

He added: “Mentally it was heavy. I went through a very dark period.”