Darlow Looking Forward To Home League Bow

By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

Karl Darlow has waited more than 18 months for his first Barclays Premier League appearance at St. James' Park, and he intends to make the very most of it.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper signed for Newcastle in August 2014 but was immediately loaned back to his former club, Nottingham Forest, where he made 44 starts last term before returning to Tyneside.

Since then he's had to be patient, but injuries to Tim Krul and Rob Elliot have given him an opportunity and he's played in Newcastle's last two games at Norwich and Southampton.

He will again be between the posts when Swansea City arrive at Gallowgate on Saturday and Darlow has admitted that he can't wait to experience a top flight game at the Magpies' famous stadium.

Darlow did play in August's Capital One Cup second round victory over League Two Northampton Town - his hometown club - but knows that running out in front of almost 50,000 home fans will be an altogether different scenario.

And, speaking to nufcTV this week, he said: "I'm excited. Obviously I've warmed up and stuff; you just see the ground and it's unbelievable.

"It's an unbelievable place to play your football, so I'm excited and relishing going out there and hopefully showing what I can do."

Regular number one Krul's season was ended when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty in October while Elliot's campaign was curtailed last month when he too was hurt while playing for his country.

But both men took to social media to wish Darlow well, while Newcastle's newest netminder has also been grateful for the way the fans have got behind him in the last two matches.

"They've been brilliant," he said. "Away from home in the first game against Norwich, I got massive applause when I walked out so I was delighted with that.

"I know wat the fans are like up here - they're very passionate about their football club - so I'm just hoping I can put together some good performances for them and for this Club and hopefully they'll lead to positive results.

"Rob and Tim putting on Twitter about me coming into the team, they've backed me, and their support helped me coming into those last two games."

He added: "I've waited all season to get a chance so for me it's been positive that I can go out and play.

"With the two disappointing results, I've had to put that behind me because we can't dwell.

"I've been working hard on the training ground and I've got my opportunity so I really do need to take it and show everyone what I can do."

Four of United's final six matches are at St. James' Park, and Darlow believes that they could be important in Newcastle's battle against the drop.

"We've got to stay positive and I think the home games we really need to nail and make sure we get good results at home," he said.

"The away results have been disappointing but we need to look at the positives now and really put some results together."

Should Newcastle require an example of what a difference a few victories can make, they need look no further than Saturday's opponents.

Four wins from their last six matches have seen Swansea's own relegation worries evaporate, with last weekend's victory over Chelsea epitomising their new-found confidence.

"It can be done," said Darlow. "Leicester did it last season - probably from a worse position than we are now.

"You do look at past results and things that have happened, so we know that it's there to be done. We just need to come out and show it on the pitch.

"We know they're a possession team, mainly; they're a good side, they're well organised, but we need to show grit, desire and hopefully out-run them and outplay them throughout the game.

"We really need to go into this with a positive mind-set, with the fans behind us, and hopefully get a good result."

You can watch the full nufcTV interview with Karl Darlow here