Craig Hope has revealed on his official Twitter page that Martin Dubravka may be out injured for six to eight weeks, according to the coach of Slovakia.

The Daily Mail journalist has confirmed the "huge blow" to Newcastle United, who may also be without strikers Dwight Gayle and Joelinton for the start of the new 2020/21 season.

However, the likely absence of Dubravka at least for the first few games will surely hurt Steve Bruce and the members of the Toon Army.

The goalkeeper was voted as the Tyneside club's player of the year after a relatively impressive 2019/20 campaign that saw him rack up 11 clean sheets in 39 matches in all competitions, including playing in every single minute of the Premier League term, as per Transfermarkt.

It means that the Magpies will now have to rely on Karl Darlow and Mark Gillespie as the only 'keeper options available to Bruce, with the latter a new signing from Scottish team Motherwell (via the website) and will surely need time to settle in and adapt to life at St. James' Park.

Whether this means that the English manager will now go in and try to get another player between the sticks as cover is another question, but the injury to Dubravka has certainly not helped his plans going into the next season.

The 31-year old very much established himself as Bruce's number one by playing in every minute of the top flight in the last campaign, and by winning the player of the year award, the Slovakian international cemented himself as an important part of the side.

Geordies, how much of a blow is losing Dubravka? Comment below!