Killer stats explain why Steve Bruce dropped Freddie Woodman & recalled Karl Darlow

Just THREE keepers have better save stats than Karl Darlow this season, according to research carried out by FBref.

Only Chelsea's Edouard Mendy (94.7%), Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale (87.5%) and Wolves' Jose Sa (87%) have a higher save percentage than Karl Darlow (85.7%) this season, with the Toon keeper stopping 12 out of the 14 shots he has faced so far.

This places him higher than renowned world class shot stoppers Alisson (77.8%) and Ederson (80%) of Liverpool and Man City.

By contrast, Freddie Woodman is right at the bottom of the list among Premier League goalkeepers, saving just 47% of the chances coming his way - proving that Steve Bruce was right to drop the 24-year-old so soon.

From a personal view, I thought Woodman looked shaky and he didn’t fill me with confidence between the sticks.

Dropping him was a MUST after his two costly errors at Old Trafford and I feel a lot calmer when Darlow is in goal.

That’s not to say Woodman won’t come good eventually, but he has been crying out for a chance at NUFC for years and did not take it this time around.

With Dubravka back in training and Darlow ahead of Woodman in the pecking order, you have to wonder when the latter will get another chance