Tim Krul predicts big things for Newcastle United in 2012

Jan 1 2012 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

TIM KRUL is predicting big things for Newcastle United in 2012 - and the good news for the smarting Toon Army is he intends to be around to experience them.

The brilliant Dutch keeper enjoyed a fantastic 2011, establishing himself as Newcastle’s No. 1 after winning a three-way battle with Steve Harper and Fraser Forster.

A string of sizzling performances this season sparked links with a move away from St James’ Park.

Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest in him.

Krul, however, insists he is living his lifelong dream by playing for Newcastle – and he has no intention of quitting a club who have consistently kept their promises to their superb young charge.

He sniffs the potential for something big at St James’ Park and wants to be part of it – even if he knows bouncing back from Friday’s loss to Liverpool is the priority.

He told the Sunday Sun: “I think 2012 could be a very good year for Newcastle – a very big year.

“The club is moving in the right direction. Hopefully this month we can get some additions to help the squad, too.

“From that, we have given ourselves a good base. So far we’ve been fantastic, even if Friday night was very frustrating.”

Anfield disappointment was acute for Krul – especially because there is burgeoning belief in the squad that they can now compete with the top four or five clubs in the league.

Perhaps a touch of inexperience cost them on Merseyside, but the team believe they are moving forward and the assumption that they will be broken up by a profit-seeking board is not shared in the dressing room.

If Newcastle are braced for bids for their best, Krul is surely the most vulnerable after stunning displays against the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea so far this season.

Put that to the Holland international, though, and his reaction is a telling one.

Asked for the first time about a move away, he says he feels he “owes” United, a club who have always insisted they were best placed to help him fulfil his enormous potential.

“I don’t pay attention to it,” he said. “It’s just speculation. I’ve not heard anything and I’m more than happy.

“I’m finally playing for Newcastle, I’m just enjoying my life and I don’t listen to it. It’s just rumours, I wouldn’t want to leave.

“I wouldn’t want to because this has always been my dream. I just knew I had to be patient.

“We always used that word – patience. But the club has always kept its promises to me, all the way through.

“They said I would play in the cup games and I have. I was always happy with my progress and felt I was on the right path.

“Now I have got a chance. I’ve taken it so far and I need to keep doing that.”