Arsenal and Southampton watch on as Woodman’s Newcastle future remains uncertain

If you were at the Liberty on Saturday night you would have seen the immediate reaction of Freddie Woodman as the whistle blew and he led the celebrations of the team as they reached Wembley for the Championship play off final.

It is clear that Woodman loves Swansea after two years on loan at the club and for the man with 20 Championship clean sheets this season (plus one in the play offs) he would love just one more at Wembley on Saturday which would take the Swans into the Premier League.

Promotion could even see the on loan goalkeeper stay at Swansea for a longer period although the Swans would face some stiff competition for his services next season with Arsenal and Southampton both watching the situation with Newcastle uncertain as to what they want as his loan spell comes to an end.

It goes to show just how much his stock has risen under Steve Cooper and Swansea and both manager and club should take credit for turning him into a man in demand and certainly someone who has a long future ahead of himself in the game.

Woodman was outstanding in both legs of the semi-final win over Barnsley and we know he will have his work cut out again on Saturday as he comes up against the division’s leading scorers in Brentford who of course have Ivan Toney in their midst – the winner of the Championship’s golden boot.

“Football is so volatile and unpredictable, and so many different things can happen between now and the start of next season,” said Woodman.

“But the good thing about my mentality is I take every day as it comes. Currently I’m a Swansea player and that’s it. When I go back to Newcastle I’ll have the same mentality I had coming here. I’ll train and try to be No 1, and if that doesn’t happen I’ll work hard and keep trying to improve.

“Newcastle have fantastic goalkeepers. I’ve worked with Martin and Karl for a good amount of time now and they’re two of my closest friends.

“If I can put myself up against top goalkeepers then I can only improve, because it’s good to have a competitive goalkeeping group. It makes it exciting.”