---
title: "Benitez heaps praise on Dubravka – does he deserve a new contract?"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2019/09/27/benitez-heaps-praise-on-dubravka-does-he-deserve-a-new-contract/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2019-09-27T05:00:46Z"
modified: "2019-09-27T05:00:46Z"
---

# Benitez heaps praise on Dubravka – does he deserve a new contract?

Former Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has heaped praise on goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Benitez, speaking in a [Q&A on The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/1236585/?source=twitterhq), claimed that Dubravka has great potential and that he is a good professional.

He said this when asked about goalkeepers he’d worked with:

> I was lucky enough because I had Reina, Cech, Canizares, and others, but Dubravka has great potential. He is a good keeper but also he is very keen to learn. He is a good professional and he’s trying to improve his game all the time.

### READ NEWCASTLE VERDICT

Does Dubravka deserve to be given a new contract?

![Marc Atkins/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2019/09/1168590309.jpg)

There has been speculation this month that the shot-stopper is in talks over an extended deal, so does he warrant one?

Absolutely. Dubravka has been one of Newcastle’s best performers over the last 18 months and has had a fairly strong start to the campaign. Although he is capable of the occasional wobble, he more than makes up for it with his stunning saves to keep Newcastle in games.

If Newcastle want to build a side capable of pushing up the table they need to maintain the core of their starting XI, and that starts with Dubravka. Every good side needs a reliable goalkeeper between the sticks, which is exactly what Dubravka is.