A Leeds United man’s heroics at Elland Road have earned him a Premier League award nomination that pits him against Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton stars.
Karl Darlow did what Karl Darlow does yet again for Leeds United this season. A year after being parachuted into the starting XI to calm the noise around the goalkeeping situation and see Leeds home to promotion, the Wales international was it again. When Daniel Farke decided that first-choice stopper Lucas Perri needed some time out of the spotlight, the manager turned to Darlow again and the 35-year-old delivered. He was a solid, reliable presence in goal and provided an improvement in distribution from the back. His run of 17 Premier League appearances from January 17 onwards brought just four defeats and he earned five clean sheets as the Whites finished well clear of relegation trouble.
But it was an individual save that earned Darlow his place on a shortlist full of top flight stars. When Wolves visited Elland Road on April 18 they were beaten 3-0 but came so close to hitting the net from a well-worked corner. The delivery came in from the right and was glanced goalward by Ladislav Krejčí and with Darlow moving the other way, he managed to flash a glove and push the ball up and over the crossbar.
Darlow is up against Manchester City keepers James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma, Everton’s Jordan Pickford, David Raya of Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale of Newcastle United. Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky is also nominated for his save against Leeds towards the end of the season. With Leeds pushing for a late winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, James Justin nutmegged a defender to put Sean Longstaff in the area and the midfielder unleashed a fierce strike that Kinsky somehow palmed onto his crossbar.
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