United set to sign Magpies keeper Krul
Last updated 05:14, Friday, 28 November 2008
CARLISLE United will today tie up Newcastle United keeper Tim Krul on loan – another shattering blow to Ben Williams who had been hoping for a recall in tomorrow’s home clash with Cheltenham.
Krul, 20, was in talks last night over a month’s loan move to Carlisle after Ben Alnwick returned to Spurs earlier this week.
The Dutch under-20 keeper, who began his career with hometown club Den Haag, joined Newcastle in 2005, but has made just one senior competitive appearance for the Magpies, famously keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 UEFA Cup win away to Serie A side Palmero two years ago.
He spent half of last season on loan at SPL club Falkirk, and during his time in Scotland he was involved in the horrific on-field collision with Gretna star Fabian Yantorno in which the South America playmaker suffered knee ligament damage when the pair raced for a 50-50 ball.
Krul’s arrival has come as a major disappointment to Ben Williams who had hoped a recall tomorrow would help him rebuild his shattered reputation and shake off his calamity keeper tag.
Williams suffered an alarming slump in form, with costly mistakes in defeats to Tranmere and Scunthorpe, but he insisted this week he is ready for a first-team return.
The summer signing from Crewe said: “I feel fine about playing and there’s problem about me playing because it was just a blip I suffered.
“The last thing I want is to be a liability or a calamity keeper. Ben Alnwick was brought in because mistakes were made and you have to be big enough to hold your hands up. Making a mistake doesn’t make you a bad keeper overnight.
“I held my hands up that I cost the team a couple of points – and I deserved to be left out of the team.”
Williams dismissed suggestions he was suffering from a crisis of confidence as United’s impressive early form disappeared and they embarked on a depressing run of 10 defeats in 12 league and cup games.
The 26-year-old was replaced halfway through that dismal sequence of results by Alnwick, but Williams insists he would have preferred to have played his part in helping United end their losing run.
He said: “I didn’t want to be dropped and I wasn’t happy when it happened. When you’re out of the team, it’s difficult to watch as I’m not a good spectator.
“I don’t like losing and seeing the team lose so it was frustrating not to be out there on the pitch.
“I’ve worked really hard on the training pitch to try to impress the manager. I’m still very confident in my own ability.”
Williams played in the FA Cup ties against Grays Athletic, including Tuesday night’s game which was abandoned after 20 minutes due to floodlight failure, to avoid Alnwick becoming cup-tied.
Alnwick failed to impress during his time at Brunton Park but the arrival of Redknapp at Spurs prompted the former Sunderland keeper to return south to try to force his way into the first-team frame at White Hart Lane.
Redknapp is reported to have lost faith with his current first-choice Heurelho Gomes, who was at fault for both Fulham goals in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage at the weekend.
n United’s youth team host Mansfield tomorrow in the Alliance Cup at Creighton Rugby Club’s ground at the Garlands (kick off 12pm).
