Fraser Forster made his first Newcastle appearance in almost a year in tonight’s 2-0 win in a friendly at Darlington.
Newcastle’s first team fly to the USA on Sunday for a three match tour with the indications being that Steve Harper and Tim Krul with be manager Alan Pardew’s first picks leaving Forster to travel with the reserve squad to Holland.
Neil Lennon had a £1.5m bid turned down for Forster last month with the Celtic boss anxious to bring in a new goalkeeper despite his praise for Lucasz Zaluska who played in all three matches of Celtic’s Australian tour.
Forster played for almost the whole of last season for Celtic having previously enjoyed loan spells with Norwich City, Bristol Rovers and Stockport County and is still waiting for his Newcastle debut.
Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa has spent the last few days with Celtic but there are conflicting reports as to whether he’s on trial or not.
Shay Given has been expected to compete a move from Manchester City to Aston Villa but after more than a week he has still to put pen to paper.
The Irish international ‘keeper has gone on record about his support of Celtic but it has been assumed that Celtic would be unable to pay City a transfer fee and also come to an agreement with Given.
With the opening match of the season just over a week away four different keepers are in the running to feature in the SPL opener away to Hibs on July 24.
CLICK HERE for the best of Video Celts this week
CLICK HERE for Jackie McNamara interview
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
Do you have a passion for football, writing and Celtic? VideoCelts is looking to expand over the coming months and can offer you a great platform to join the expanding online Celtic community. Drop an email to videocelts@snack-media.com
what is it with pardew eh we give his first choice keeper some great first team football and what does he do throw him back in the reserves what a cheek for a third rate team I mean let’s face it they’re never gonna get out the bottom part of the EPL its a disgrace as for Given well if your gonna sign for us move your ass lol
HAIL HAIL
We need to look elsewhere in the goalkeeping department. Forster is decent at best, but he isn’t a good all round goalkeeper. He is tall and therefore good at collecting crosses and he is a decent shot stopper, but his decision making and positioning still needs a lot of improving.
And anyway, I don’t like the idea of a club such as Newcastle, a club far less superior to our own, sending us their thirds for some game time. A Celtic goalkeeper will have to endure far more pressure during the season than a Newcastle one ever will.
We need an all round good goalkeeper who has experience in playing for a demanding set of supporters.
Get over yourselves you two. Newcastle if nothing else have an abundance of good keepers any of which you’d trample your mothers for. not in your class? Endure more? good greaf take a reality check.
Judgin by the standard of the SPL if u reckon a Celtic keeper will have to endure more pressure than a Newcastle keeper, that really doesn’t say much about your defence does it! Are you mental?
Things got a bit naughty at Darlington, Newcastle fans invading the pitch after the second goal and delaying the match.
Friday night matches maybe not such a good idea locally and in summertime.
Once more our “transfer machine” grinds along slowly while we work out the best way to save a few bob….
For God’s sake lads…get your finger out and sign a ‘keeper…how hard can it be??
We’ve known for months about Forster…no excuses.
It’s a poker hand just now Mike, Zaluska shouldn’t be too stretched at Hibs, after that we have a fortnight before the next competitive game, I’d be concerned if we didn’t have a new goalkeeper for the game at Aberdeen.
I have to laugh at the Geordie maggots going on as if their team is superior to Celtic. They really are the laughing stock of English fitba. I wonder how much they would give to have as many fans at St James Monkey Palace as we do.
@Jimmy
What your massive 10k more capacity? We were not far off sold out every game in the championship. Do your research pet lamb before you make yourself look silly.