Newcastle United boss John Carver says young goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is ready for the first team.
Carver says he protected Woodman in January, keeping him on the bench while Jak Alnwick enjoyed a prolonged run in the first team.
He resisted calls to bring him in for the FA Cup third round game at Leicester - but would play him now.
"I use Freddie as an example because by not playing him, he's then been on the bench a few times and trained with the first team in the last three months," he said. "Now he will be ready for it."