Newcastle United player to get Carabao Cup medal if Manchester United win – but will not get if his team do
Martin Dubravka, the goalkeeper of Newcastle United, is in a unique position where he will emerge as a victor in every sense of the term, irrespective of the outcome of the Carabao Cup final on Sunday between Newcastle and Manchester United. Even if he doesn’t play at Wembley, he will still be a trophy winner in one scenario and a medal winner in the other.
Dubravka is eligible to receive a winners’ medal if Manchester United defeat Newcastle, given that he played two matches for Erik ten Hag’s team this season.
However, Dubravka also played for Newcastle recently and could potentially lift the trophy if Eddie Howe’s side emerges victorious. Dubravka likely did not anticipate this situation when he joined Manchester United on loan until the end of the season in August, and the issue arose when he returned from his loan stint at Old Trafford in January.
Dubravka played only two matches for Manchester United, both of which were in the Carabao Cup. He made his debut in the third round, helping the team to a 4-2 win over Aston Villa, and then kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Burnley, which secured their place in the quarter-finals. However, he struggled to get playing time and was recalled by Newcastle after they sent Karl Darlow to Hull City.
Unfortunately for Dubravka, Newcastle’s decision to recall him from his loan spell meant that he was ineligible to play in the Carabao Cup final, as it was against his parent club, Manchester United.
Despite not being able to play in the Carabao Cup final, Dubravka is still eligible to receive a winners’ medal from Manchester United due to a long-standing rule. This is because he made important contributions to the team’s progress in the tournament, having played in the earlier rounds of the competition. As such, the club can award him a medal as a recognition of his role in their Carabao Cup campaign.
The competition rules state: “In addition to the Cup, the Management Committee shall present 30 souvenirs to the winning Club in the Final Tie and 30 souvenirs to the losing Club. Additional souvenirs may be presented with the consent of the Management Committee but shall be at the cost of the requesting Club.”
In the event that Newcastle wins the Carabao Cup final, Dubravka will be allowed to celebrate the victory with his team-mates. However, he will not receive a medal as he did not play for Newcastle in the competition this season.
Additionally, Dubravka is cup-tied and cannot participate in the final. This is disappointing news for the experienced goalkeeper, especially as Nick Pope is also unavailable due to suspension. As a result, Eddie Howe is expected to select Loris Karius, the fourth-choice goalkeeper, to make his debut against Manchester United.
Dubravka is in a difficult position, as he must choose who to support from the sidelines. However, given that he has played in 131 matches for Newcastle, it is a simple decision for him to support the club that pays his salary over the team that did not give him many opportunities to prove himself.
Newcastle United player to get Carabao Cup medal if Man United win – but will not get if his team do
