OPINION
The international break is the bane of many fans’ lives.
The interruption in the season at such a crucial juncture, coupled with the potential for injury to important players prior to the run in mean that most supporters look at the period with disdain and a bit of resentment.
It doesn’t have to be all bad though. When a player hits his stride and turns on the style on the biggest of stages, it can reaffirm, to them and their club, just how important they are.
Take Martin Dubravka, for instance. The Slovakian number one has been in imperious form for Newcastle United most of this season, but hit a bit of a wobble a few weeks ago and has seemingly been undergoing something of a recovery ever since.
First came an uncharacteristic mistake against Tottenham that cost his side a point in the closing minutes, followed by a dropped cross against Wolves that cost them all three in a similarly late stage of proceedings.
For the first time in his spell on Tyneside, questions were asked, and there was some concern as to how the incidents had affected his confidence.
Since then he has looked better and more assured, like his old self, but it will be his performance in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Wales that will have given him the boost needed to really kick on for the rest of the season.
Yes, Slovakia got beat, and in truth they rarely looked like doing anything else, but Dubravka made some really decent stops and ultimately did himself proud.
A clean sheet would have been the icing on the cake, but now he can got back to Tyneside revitalised by a personal success that should clear his head and remind him of just important he can be for this Toon side.
