Tim Krul: I want to be Toon No 1 – not leave

Aug 2 2009 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

United may be entering the season with a worryingly threadbare squad, but the goalkeeping department is surprisingly well-stocked.

As well as Harper and Krul, the club also have Fraser Forster in reserve – although the latter may follow the Dutchman’s example and go out on loan last season.

Krul believes that working alongside Harper, and Given before him, has helped him progress.

“I get along well with Steve and Fraser. Harps is a great teacher and he’s not afraid to tell you if you do something wrong. He’s given me a lot of rollockings since I came here and I’m used to it now,” he said.

“But he’s here to help me and I’ve learned a lot from him. You need to keep playing and going on loan last season was useful. I would be prepared to go on loan but my priority is getting into the Newcastle team.

“My first aim was to play in the Premier League and now I’ve had to change that to The Championship but basically I just want to play for Newcastle. it’s a massive club, it’s still a fantastic club and we just need the right people to push it on. This could be even tougher than last season because we’ll be expected to win every week.

“All teams in the Championship will be gunning for us and we have to be up for it. I like the physical side of the game and I’m up for the fight. I want to get out there and prove myself.”

The affable Krul has spent four years in the North East and the fact that he has never thought about leaving is testament to the care he got when he joined.

The subsequent turmoil may have encouraged others to head for the hills, but Krul believes that he owes United a “debt”.

“I was 17 and left my mother who did everything for me, so it was a big change. The club were great with me, Freddie Shepherd met me and my parents and it was perfect,” he said.

“Shay was massive influence. Coming here at age 17 he was the ideal role model for me. He told me – “if you make a mistake you get over it”. Coach Paul Barron has been superb too.”

And while United have given him his education, he also owes plenty to Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar, his “idol”.

“Edwin was my idol since I was young. I’ll always remember he told me “you’re not allowed to play a first team game till you go on loan” and when Palermo happened he texted me and said “just ignore what I said” – but he’s given me some great advice.”