Sky Sports pundit Matt Murray has heaped praise on Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman for his performance for Swansea in their 3-1 win against QPR on Wednesday night.
Woodman, 22, joined the Swans on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window and has started life in South Wales well.
According to WhoScored, Woodman made two saves in Swansea’s win at Loftus Road and ex-Wolves goalkeeper Murray, who was covering the match on Sky Sports News, was thrilled with what he saw after one of those saves.
“When it takes a deflection like that, you have to credit Freddie Woodman,” said Murray on Wednesday night [09:19pm].
“You’ve just got to do whatever you can in that goal to keep the ball out, you’ve got to improvise. He keeps the ball out of the net and then you need help from your defenders and again they’re onto him.
“He’s just been booked for taking his time over a goal kick and trust me, he’s not rushing over this one either.
“But a really, really good save from a young England goalkeeper who’s come through all the schoolboy levels.”
OPINION
Woodman is a really good prospect for Newcastle and based on some of Martin Dubravka’s performances for the Magpies at the back-end of last season and the start of this one, the England youth international could well become St James’ Park’s number one once he is done at Swansea. Woodman was in good form on Wednesday night. Although QPR’s one goal was a blemish on what was a near-perfect night for the Magpies goalkeeper, he should still be happy with his performance – as should Newcastle’s loan manager Shola Ameobi. It is great to see Woodman starting games and showing that he does have the potential to be a Premier League goalkeeper. Dubravka was linked with a move away from Tyneside in the summer and those links could well appear again next summer. If he does end up leaving then at least Woodman is around because he certainly looks better than Karl Darlow does.
