Rookie goalkeeper Jak Alnwick could face a baptism of fire on Sunday when he's named on the Newcastle bench for the very first time against the most successful club in Premier League history, Manchester United. But manager Alan Pardew has insisted that he has every faith in the former England under-18 international, who has been in superb form for the Magpies at second-string level so far this season, should he be called upon. With Tim Krul injured and Rob Elliot having to come off at half-time against Bordeaux on Thursday night, Steve Harper and Alnwick are the only fit senior goalkeepers at the club. The 19-year-old from Hexham joined Newcastle from Sunderland - where his older brother, Ben, used to play - four years ago and made his Reserve team debut against Middlesbrough in October 2009. He enjoyed his first taste of senior action in August when he replaced Harper for the final few minutes of a 4-1 friendly win over Hartlepool and has played in all five of United's Barclays Under-21 Premier League matches this term. "Jak will be on the bench," Pardew confirmed ahead of the weekend's clash against the Red Devils. "He's trained well and we like Jak. We think he's got a great chance here so I've no problem with sticking him on the bench. "We don't particularly want to use him, hopefully, because we want Harps to play and be fit. "You don't want to wish injury on anybody but I don't worry too much. "I think Robbie Elliot will only be a couple of weeks and Tim I think will train perhaps next week so we've just really got one game to get through." http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20121005/jaks-the-lad-for-pardew_2281670_2940126 Anyone seen or know anything of this youngster?
Not sure bout him. He could be our version of Jak in the box. Sometimes you never know with keepers...Iker Casillas burst out onto the scene as the 3rd string keeper and never looked back since... One good performance leads to another and leads to another and suddenly he's undroppable. That was certainly the way with Tim Krul for us, so hopefully this lad gets some good experience watching from the bench and maybe he'll eventually be a great keeper for us..
Saw him in his first turn out at SJP and he looked really good. Got every faith in him doing a good job if he's called upon.
Great faith in our youngsters and I think Pardews response last night to the question was bang on the money. He scoffed at the suggestion of emergency loans, believing we are well covered within. It must be great for the youth system to finally have a situation where opportunities will be afforded at the right time, and the club won't always look to buy its way out of any given scenario.
