Newcastle keeper Krul ready to replace Man Utd veteran Van der Sar

Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul reckons he can be the next Edwin van der Sar.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that 130-cap Dutch record-breaker Van der Sar is set to retire at the end of the season and Krul is hoping that will allow him to challenge for a place in the World Cup finalists’ squad next year.

Krul said: “I have played for Holland at various levels and am ready to move on from the Under-21 side to try and challenge for senior honours.

“To have a chance of one day making it into the Holland senior side I first had to ­establish myself as a Premier League keeper and this season I have managed to do that.

“But my first target is to remain ­Newcastle’s first choice. It has been good for me to have a good run because last season at Newcastle it was just one game here and one game there.

“Edwin van der Sar is someone I look up to. He is the main man. He was my idol when I was younger and he won the Champions League at Ajax.

“I have never stopped following him. To see him at Manchester United and what he does there is fantastic.

“With Edwin, you nearly always see that if a goal goes in it is not his fault. Of course, he makes the odd mistake but ­generally he has ­everything covered.

“You can learn a lot when you see him play. If I can even achieve half of what he has achieved then I will be a happy man.”

 
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