Newcastle United £20m 'club record' signing makes St James' Park appearance amid 'unusual' situation
It was a Newcastle United debut that very few people, Odysseas Vlachodimos included, seen coming.
The Greek arrived as the Magpies’ most expensive ever goalkeeper in the summer when he joined from Nottingham Forest for £20million as part of the agreement that saw Elliot Anderson move in the opposite direction.
The sale £35m sale of academy graduate Anderson was sanctioned purely to ensure that United complied with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The catch was they had to sign Vlachodimos in return.
Prior to the 1-0 Carabao Cup win against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, there was doubt over whether he would ever make a competitive appearance for the club.
The naming of 30-year-old on the bench was even a surprise, so imagine the reaction when he got on the pitch when he replaced the injured Martin Dubravka at half-time.
“I'm pleased to give an opportunity to any player that deserves it,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told NewcastleWorld. “I have to say, since he's come to the football club, his attitude has been excellent, he's worked very hard. I thought he did well today coming on because that was a difficult moment for the team.
“As I spoke about, the set-play threat, the long throws, everyone's coming in our box and every time, you've got to come up with the right answer. I thought he claimed one really good ball. I don't think he had much to do in terms of shot-stopping, but he distributed the ball really well.”
Indeed, it was the first time Vlachodimos had featured in the matchday squad. He is among five senior goalkeepers at the club, including Dubrvaka, Nick Pope, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie.
It is a situation that even Howe admitted is unusual.
“It's fair to say that it's quite unusual to have that number of established goalkeepers and we have that position, but I think we found last year to our cost injuries to goalkeepers can have a really detrimental effect on your season,” Howe said earlier this week.
“Look, we've got strength in depth in that position, we'll enjoy having that strength. All the goalkeepers are training well, and their attitudes have been excellent.
“They're all supporting Nick at the moment, who has started the season and started the season very well, so I'm enjoying seeing that battle for place.”