In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, Steve Howey, who made 157 appearances for Newcastle United, has urged backup keeper Karl Darlow to leave this summer after being dropped for Martin Dubravka earlier this season.

Darlow has been linked with a move away to Watford who will be a Premier League club once again next season following their promotion last weekend, and they could reportedly land Darlow for as little as £6m.

The £25,000 per week shot-stopper was Steve Bruce's number one for the first half of this season while Dubravka recovered from a foot injury which he sustained at the back end of last season, but within weeks of being back fit the Slovakian was back in the starting lineup despite Darlow being on the cusp of an England call-up.

Speaking on what he would do if he was in Darlow's situation and why it still doesn't sit right with him how the 30-year old was dropped, Howey told The Transfer Tavern:

"I was disappointed with how things were handled with him when Dubravka came back into the team because I think if you stopped the season then there would have only been one winner for player of the season, and it would've been Darlow.

"I think he will be better off going somewhere else because if Dubravka is fit then he will be starting. I've got nothing against Dubravka because he's a top keeper, but I just feel what happened to Karl this season wasn't fair."

Darlow has had to bide his time at Newcastle with first-team opportunities in the Premier League being limited since Dubravka was signed in January 2018 and the Slovakian has been the number one ever since his debut against Manchester United.

Newcastle will be welcoming 24-year old Freddie Woodman back this summer when his loan deal with Swansea City expires and after impressing in the Championship he will be wanting first-team minutes to continue his development.