Tim Krul arrived at Newcastle United as a 17-year-old in 2005, stepping into a goalkeeping department that housed two of the most demanding and experienced stoppers in English football. The environment forged him — but not without pressure, competition, and a string of loan spells before he ever felt truly established.

A debut to remember

Krul's first appearance for Newcastle came just a year after he signed, when he kept a clean sheet away to Palermo in the UEFA Cup at the age of 18. The call came during a team walk in the Italian city.