The 'spotlight' will be on this Newcastle United player at the London Stadium

The Newcastle United goalkeeper’s long wait for a top-flight chance will come to an end against West Ham United at the London Stadium tonight.

And Bruce, without injured No.1 Martin Dubravka until next month, is backing Darlow – who has signed a new long-term deal keeping him at St James’s Park until 2025 – to take that opportunity.

“The spotlight is going to be on Karl a bit now,” said United's head coach. “We see him work every day, and see the way he pushes Martin. He’s waited patiently for his chance. It’s always difficult when you get a chance when someone is injured, but he’ll play at the start of the season, so let’s hope it goes well for him.”

Darlow was denied a Premier League chance last season by the coronavirus pandemic.

Dubravka, signed from Sparta Prague, initially on loan, in January 2018, suffered a knee injury in a 1-0 win over Southampton in early March, but football was suspended before the 29-year-old could play a game.

Meanwhile, Bruce has revealed that more players are in talks over new deals at the club after Darlow and Isaac Hayden signed up.

“It’s never a healthy situation when we’ve got half a dozen or so heading into the last year of their contracts,” said Bruce.

"With Isaac it’s been on-off ever since I’ve been here, but we’ve also wanted him to commit himself, which he’s now done. There’s a couple more we’re in discussions with, and hopefully we can get those over the line too."

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