Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has revealed how close he came to leaving the club in the summer after a deal with Middlesbrough fell through at the last minute.
Darlow, 27, has been at the club since 2014, making 49 appearances for the Magpies since his transfer from Nottingham Forest.
After being a mainstay in the Championship last year, making 34 appearances, the stopper has found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season, with Rob Elliott playing most regularly between the sticks.
Darlow has come into the team in the last couple of games, a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion and a 3-1 loss to Chelsea.
He has now opened up on his failed move to Middlesbrough in the summer that broke down after his replacement did not sign.
As quoted by the Chronicle, he said: “Potentially I did think I’d play my last game. It has been pretty well documented, the position I was in during the summer, and what was happening, but playing for Newcastle was something I never gave up on.
“When the transfer window closed it was time to knuckle down, but looking back it was a tough period for myself and I have come through it and I am feeling good. Hopefully I can push on again, I am back in the team and see if I can kick on.
“I was incredibly close to leaving. At the time I saw it as business when the manager told me. That’s the way to deal with it. That’s how it was explained to me. I was pretty close to leaving, yes (to Middlesbrough). I hadn’t got as far as my farewells to my team-mates. I had met and spoken to their manager and it was all ready to go.
“Newcastle were waiting on signing another goalkeeper and it fell through for another reason. Thankfully it did because I am still here and playing in the team again. It’s all good for me.”