NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has insisted he does not want in-form keeper Martin Dubravka to leave the club in January.

The Slovakia international, who turns 36 later this month, has kept four clean sheets in the five games he has played since replacing the injured Nick Pope and will continue in goal at Tottenham this weekend, but has been linked with a move to Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab.

Howe said: “The situation with Martin is we would not want him to leave, but of course you have to respect and understand the player’s wishes as well in this. It’s not as clear-cut as everyone would necessarily have you think.

“Martin is out of contract as well in the summer, so that’s a different dynamic to add into the mix. But it’s all hypothetical. Martin is, and has been, fully committed. He’s been outstanding, he’s been a brilliant professional to work with.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I think he’s done really well when you consider he didn’t have a lot of football when coming into the team, so fair play to him and how he’s handled that situation.”

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Pope has resumed light training after his knee injury and will likely return to the side when he's fully fit, but at this stage it's not clear when that will be.

Asked whether his No.1 is clear cut when Pope is ready to return, Howe said:  “I don’t think I have to go into that conversation today. Martin has been excellent for us. In every respect of his game he has looked supremely confident which is never easy for someone who hasn’t played for a period of time.

"His distribution of the ball has been of a high level, he has made important saves when needed he has definitely contributed to the way the team has played. But Nick is a fabulous keeper with his unique skillset. It is great to have to high level goalkeepers at the same club.”

Howe believes Dubravka's distribution will be particularly important at Tottenham, with Newcastle going in search of their sixth straight win.

The head coach said: "Martin's always been very good with his feet. I think that's one of his biggest strengths. But I think the modern-day goalkeeper now live in that world where their distribution is viewed with equal importance as their ability to keep the ball out of the net.

"Martin's played his part in that respect really well in terms of helping us have control, especially when you go to Old Trafford. That's a big part of the game that we tried to focus on, and I thought he did give us that ability to play and to build our attacks and to make it difficult for them to get to our centre-backs from the pressing viewpoint.

"Tottenham are a very good pressing team, a very good team off the ball, so that's going to be a different dimension for us again coming into this game."