Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was a major absentee for the league game at Aston Villa over the weekend. The Slovakia international missed the defeat to Villa due to injury.

Slovakia national team shot stopper Dubravka was absent as Aston Villa inflicted another defeat on Newcastle Unitedin what was one of the week two games as far as the new Premier League campaign is concerned.

Dubravka was in Slovakia goal at the Euro 2020 tournament this summer. He was in the starting line-up for all the three group games involving Slovakia at the tournament. Slovakia were knocked out of the tournament at the group stage. Dubravka and his Slovakia national team colleagues won one and lost two out of the three games played in Group E.

Newcastle United shot stopper Dubravka missed the Villa game at the weekend in addition to the West Ham United game on the opening weekend of the latest Premier League season due to a foot injury. He has now missed the start of the two successive Premier League seasons after an ankle injury made him miss the beginning of last season's Premier League campaign.

Dubravka missed the start of the Premier League campaign last season. In his absence, Karl Darlow deputised for him in the Newcastle United goal. He reclaimed his shirt upon his return to full fitness.
The Slovakian international has been replaced in the Newcastle United goal by Freddie Woodman at the start of this season's Premier League campaign as he recuperates from his foot injury. Woodman is back at the St. James Park this summer after two seasons out on loan.

Woodman is an highly rated goalkeeper who was at Welsh team Swansea City on loan from the Magpies for the last two seasons. He won the best goalkeeper award in the Championship last season as Swansea City reached the playoff final before they were seen off by Brentford.