Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has expressed his desire for more game time at Elland Road while on international duty with Wales.
The 33-year-old shot-stopper joined Leeds last summer from Newcastle United following the club’s relegation to the Championship. After an impressive loan spell at Hull City, there were expectations that Darlow might take on a starting role at Elland Road, especially with uncertainty surrounding Illan Meslier’s future after relegation.
However, Meslier remained with the club, leaving Darlow to play a backup role. Over the past year, he has made just five appearances for Leeds United. Despite this, Darlow earned a spot in Craig Bellamy’s first Wales squad as he looks to make the most of his international opportunities later in his career.
Despite his lack of regular club football, Darlow turned in a solid performance during Wales’ victory over Montenegro, playing the full 90 minutes. Speaking about his limited playing time at Leeds, Darlow made it clear he wants to be more involved but remains confident in his abilities and the hard work he puts in during training.
“Yes, I want to play more, of course,” Darlow told Leeds Live. “But, [with] the work that goes on on the training ground, I know how dedicated I am to my profession and how I work day in, day out.
“Coming here, with the goalkeeping coach, Martyn Margetson, who’s renowned for being a top-class goalkeeping coach, it has helped me this week as well. I had a confidence going into the game I was ready and I know I touched on everything I needed to.
“There was no doubt in my mind I could go out there and put on a good performance.”
For now, Darlow remains focused on being prepared whenever the opportunity arises, but his comments suggest he is eager for more consistent minutes on the pitch at Leeds.
Who is Karl Darlow?
Darlow has established himself as a reliable goalkeeper throughout a career that has seen him play for several English clubs. He began his professional journey at Nottingham Forest, where he came through the youth ranks before being promoted to the first team. While at Forest, Darlow had loan spells at Newport County and Walsall to gain valuable first-team experience. His performances caught the eye, and he eventually became the first-choice goalkeeper at Forest, making a solid impact with over 100 appearances for the club.
Darlow’s consistent performances earned him a move to Newcastle United, where he was initially loaned back to Forest before joining the Magpies fully. At Newcastle, Darlow played a crucial role in their promotion back to the Premier League in 2017, after featuring regularly during their Championship-winning campaign. Though he spent several seasons as a backup to first-choice goalkeepers at Newcastle, he managed to feature in both Premier League and cup competitions, contributing whenever called upon.
In search of regular game time, Darlow enjoyed a successful loan spell at Hull City, where his performances were highly praised. This led to his move to Leeds United, where he currently serves as a backup to Illan Meslier.
Writer’s View
From Leeds United’s perspective, the situation with Karl Darlow is a tricky one. They brought him in from Newcastle with the hope he could either push Illan Meslier for the starting spot or step in if Meslier were to leave after relegation. However, with Meslier staying put and maintaining his place as the first-choice goalkeeper, Darlow has found himself in a backup role. The club will appreciate having a reliable second option, especially someone with Darlow’s experience, but it’s clear that he was brought in to potentially be more than just a bench warmer. Leeds may now face the challenge of keeping a highly capable but underutilised goalkeeper happy, especially as he continues to show his worth on the international stage.
From Darlow’s perspective, it’s understandable that he’s frustrated with the lack of game time. At 33, he’s in the latter stages of his career and will want to maximise his playing opportunities, particularly after proving his quality during his loan spell at Hull and with Wales. His comments suggest he’s confident in his abilities and feels ready to contribute more, but he’s being professional about the situation. It’s likely that he’ll be pushing for more minutes in the coming months, and if the situation doesn’t change, he may look for a move to secure the regular football he desires.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
