Loris Karius could make his Newcastle United debut in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

It should be the happiest of weekends for fans of Newcastle United as they prepare for their first cup final in 24 years.

It was 1999 the last time the Toon Army played on the biggest of stages, losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup final by two goals to nil.

And has fate would have it, it’s the team from Manchester they face again on Sunday, this time in the Carabao Cup final.

I would have said the result of this game was harder to call than their previous meeting at Wembley, but that was before a moment of madness from Newcastle’s number one, Nick Pope.

Pope was sent off against Liverpool last Saturday, meaning he’ll miss the final, his team’s biggest game in almost a quarter of a century.

And to rub salt into the Geordies’ already gaping wounds, their second choice goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, is cup-tied, having played for Manchester United during his loan spell at Old Trafford last year.

It puts the Slovakian is the bizarre position that if his team loses, he will find himself eligible to a winner’s medal having represented Newcastle’s opponents in earlier rounds of the competition.

So that leaves Newcastle forced to go further down their goalie pecking order to find a keeper for Sunday, and right now, all fingers are pointing at Loris Karius.

The German signed for Newcastle last September, and has still to make an appearance for the first team. His debut looks likely to be at Wembley on Sunday for the cup final.

Karius hasn’t played a professional game for two years. This isn’t a case of throwing him in at the deep end, but more chucking him head first into a bottomless pit.

And of course we all remember what happened in what turned out to be his last game for the Liverpool, the 2018 Champions League final.

With the scores level at one a piece, Karius made two mammoth errors to hand victory, and the trophy, to Real Madrid. He never played for Liverpool again after that.

So what’s going to happen Sunday? Well I’ve no doubt Manchester United will certainly be shooting on sight, and Karius will be the main topic of discussions before, during and after the final.

But I’m hoping the 29-year-old can use all this added pressure to his advantage. It’s worth remembering he’s not that bad of a keeper, and was first choice in the Liverpool team that, against all odds, reached the Champions League final five years ago.

So up step Loris. This is your time. I can see it now. Newcastle winning one nil… penalty awarded to Manchester United in the 90th minute? The German’s chance to go from zero to hero, and if Newcastle do win their first major trophy since 1955 thanks to the contributions of Karius, then expect a statue to be built in his honour on the banks of the river Tyne. VNS