Steve Bruce drops Martin Dubravka selection hint ahead of Newcastle United's FA Cup tie against Arsenal

Newcastle United, knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Championship club Brentford last month, take on Mikel Arteta’s side in a FA Cup third-round tie tomorrow.

And goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, sidelined since the summer following surgery on a heel injury, is set to play at the Emirates Stadium.

"We blew a wonderful opportunity a month ago to get to a semi-final, “said head coach Bruce. “That’ll not change. Yes, there will be a few changes tomorrow. Dubravka needs a game, (he’s) back ready. He needs that game probably. So I’ll use that match. We could’ve done with an easier tie to get through to the next one, but we’ll treat it with the respect, obviously, that Arsenal deserve.”

Dubravka had been a Premier League ever-present for the club since joining, initially on loan, from Sparta Prague in January 2018.

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