---
title: "Virals: Newcastle boss Steve Bruce confirms EPL debutant against West Ham"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/08/13/virals-newcastle-boss-steve-bruce-confirms-epl-debutant-against-west-ham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-08-13T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-08-13T16:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Newcastle boss Steve Bruce confirms EPL debutant against West Ham

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/08/13/virals-west-ham-show-concrete-interest-in-wolves-starlet-owen-otasowie/) start their Premier League campaign this weekend with a trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United on Sunday.

The Hammers will be hoping to replicate their successes of last season in the 2021/22 campaign as [David Moyes](https://readwestham.com/2021/08/12/jamie-ohara-predicts-relegation-battle-for-west-ham-this-season/)‘ side learn to cope with [life in the Europa League](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/may/23-may/west-ham-united-qualify-uefa-europa-league-final-day-win-over#:~:text=May%2018%3A13-,West%20Ham%20United%20qualify%20for%20UEFA%20Europa,final%2Dday%20win%20over%20Southampton&text=A%20first%2Dhalf%20brace%20from,for%20the%20UEFA%20Europa%20League.) alongside domestic matters.

Despite only [adding goalkeeper Alphonse Areola](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/july/29-july/west-ham-united-sign-world-cup-winning-goalkeeper-alphonse-areola) to the first-team ranks so far this summer, the Irons have been handed a boost from their opposition when it comes to team selection.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce confirmed during a [pre-match press conference](https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1426116480823959555) that 24-year-old stopper Freddie Woodman would make a [Premier League debut](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/freddie-woodman/leistungsdaten/spieler/226049) this weekend.

> Twitter: SB on the goalkeeping situation:
>
> “Martin’s not fit and it doesn’t look as if Karl Darlow is going to be right afte… https://t.co/BFftwiQy9t (@NUFC)

Martin Dubravka missed a majority of last season through injury and Karl Darlow managed to [deputise well](https://www.sofascore.com/player/karl-darlow/123689) in the Slovakian’s absence.

However, Woodman, an [Under 21 England youth international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/freddie-woodman/nationalmannschaft/spieler/226049/verein_id/9565), is yet to feature in the top-flight having [come through the ranks](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/freddie-woodman/transfers/spieler/226049) in the North East.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Valued at £9million ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/freddie-woodman/marktwertverlauf/spieler/226049)) and with [183 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/freddie-woodman/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/226049) under his belt, the London-born ‘keeper will no doubt be optimistic over being able to give a good account of his abilities.

Irons’ boss Moyes faces a [goalkeeping selection headache](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) of a very different kind to his opposite number for the opening day.

New signing Areola, reliable backup Darren Randolph and [regular number one](https://www.90min.com/posts/west-ham-opinion-lukasz-fabianski-alphonse-areola-number-one-goalkeeper) Lukasz Fabianski will all be vying for a place in the starting XI from the get-go.