Tim Krul outlines his Newcastle United ambitions

Jul 30 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

TIM Krul has signed a new contract which should extend his Newcastle United career to nine seasons, and by then the Dutchman hopes to be first-choice goalkeeper for club and country.

The 22-year-old is Holland’s Under-21 captain and the Magpies’ second-choice goalkeeper but in both cases he has his sights set higher. Keeping a highly-rated young goalkeeper happy is often difficult for Premier League clubs, so for all Krul’s declarations of love for them, the Magpies have done well to persuade him to commit to a further four years.

Krul joined from ADO Den Haag in 2005, making a man-of-the-match debut against Palermo in the Uefa Cup that November. The form and fitness of 35-year-old first-choice Steve Harper restricted Krul to just 180 minutes of Championship football last season, but he did not concede in that time.

Krul has for some time been seen as the long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar in his homeland, and it is clearly an ambition.

“I am delighted to commit my future to Newcastle United, hopefully I can fulfil my dream by becoming the future number one goalkeeper as well as getting into the Dutch national squad,” he said. “I have been at the club five years and it feels like home.

“I would like to thank Harps and (goalkeeping coach) Paul Barron for the guidance they have shown me.”

Krul has made seven Newcastle starts and two substitute appearances, as well as going on loan at Falkirk and Carlisle United. Hughton is weighing up which of Krul and Fraser Forster should be loaned out next season. Burnley thought they had agreed a 12-month deal for Hexham-born Forster but claimed Newcastle delayed it because of an injury.

Some suspect it had more to do with the delays over Krul’s new contract, and it would be no surprise if one of the youngsters – most likely Forster – now moved, though not to Burnley, who have since signed Lee Grant.