Cardiff City goalkeeper Jak Alnwick is a former Newcastle player and he heads up north this weekend to take on the Magpies’ arch rivals, Sunderland
There have been a number of individual success stories within Cardiff City’s squad this season and Jak Alnwick’s is right up there.
He was signed after leaving St Mirren in the summer of 2022 and was installed as Cardiff’s No.2 goalkeeper behind Ryan Allsop last season. He had to wait patiently and bide his time, and when he was afforded his opportunities Cardiff’s defence creaked and goals were conceded.
Heading into the season, the goalkeeper situation was very much up in the air. Allsop had made too many mistakes and the verdict was still out on Alnwick. Indeed, there were murmurings that Cardiff were keen on signing another goalkeeper, so quite where that would have left Alnwick is anyone’s guess.
But it’s fair to say he has taken his chance with both hands. He has enjoyed a really strong start to the season, with fans lauding his ability to command his box, while also making big saves and being comfortable with the ball at his feet. It’s been quite the week for him personally, too, having played his part in defeating Swansea in the derby last weekend, the goalkeeper was than handed an extension to his contract, which will see him remain at the club until 2025.
He then put in a stellar display against Coventry City, including a vital late save low down against Kasey Palmer, and has managed to force his way ahead of Alex Runarsson, the summer loan signing from Arsenal. To get the latest Bluebirds news sent straight to your inbox, sign up here.
Fans have really taken to Alnwick. And it’s not only for what he’s done with the gloves, but a video of him taunting Swansea fans after the full-time whistle on Saturday has done the rounds among the Bluebirds fan base and he has endeared himself to the Cardiff faithful even more. Alnwick was pictured cupping his ears in front of the travelling supporters last Saturday night and the player himself admitted that, after losing the last four derbies in a row, he wasn’t going to let that opportunity slip.
And, having come through at Newcastle as a kid, he heads up north this Sunday to take on the Magpies’ bitter rivals in Sunderland. He hopes it represents the opportunity to come away with yet more bragging rights in what will no doubt be viewed as a derby for him and his family.
“It’s a tough one. We have seen them celebrate a lot, Swansea, over the last couple of years – when you win derbies like that you’ve got to enjoy it,” Alnwick said. “At the end of the day, there is a rivalry. Last season they had 30 people running across the pitch in front of our fans – so, I thought I’d had a bit of fun as well!
“And going up to Sunderland, I’ve played a couple of times there since I’ve left Newcastle, each game, it doesn’t matter who I play against, I’m fully focussed, it doesn’t matter about the opponent.
“Me and my brother were both there as kids, we came through the academy, but I went over to Newcastle. If you get too involved in those sort of games, it can have a reverse effect. If I can make saves for the team then it will be the same thing, three points and that’s what we are going for.
“I went from Sunderland to Newcastle when I was 15, it was more because it was closer to my family home and it was a bit of a trek. My dad was working long hours and having to take me over to Sunderland, it was more of a family decision, to be honest! The full family is Newcastle!”
Cardiff fans could be forgiven for thinking that Runarsson was coming in to displace Alnwick. After all, who signs an international-level goalkeeper from Arsenal on loan and tells him to sit on the bench? But, credit to Alnwick, he has warranted his place in the side.
Runarsson was brought in for the Carabao Cup game against Birmingham City and played well, while he had mixed results when he took the gloves from Alnwick in the clash against Ipswich Town, which the Bluebirds lost 3-2 after the Tractor Boys’ late turnaround.
The goalkeeper believes the club is on a new trajectory now and is excited to be a part of what he hopes is a bright future.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” he said of the last week. “The derby win and then the contract next. It wasn’t just a spur of the moment thing, it had been a process. The derby win, the contract, big win in midweek – it’s been a brilliant week.
“I didn’t give [the contract] a second’s thought. I wanted to get it done straight away. I could see the vision of the club, we are obviously moving forward which you can see with the summer signings. It something I definitely wanted to be a part of.”
But Alnwick appreciates he has stiff competition if he wants to keep his place in the starting lineup and knows Runarsson is also a quality operator. He needs to be at his best with the Iceland international snapping at his heels for an opportunity.
“He’s been brilliant,” Alnwick said of Runarsson. “Alex didn’t play in pre-season at Arsenal and then he has come in and been brilliant. He’s done well. He’s been away on international duty and I know he had a good game during his last international game.
“It’s been brilliant, it’s competition and that’s what we need. It pushes me and then I know what I need to do to stay in the team. He has been in the team and he knows what he has to do.
“It’s something you need at all football clubs, because if you get it easy and there’s not someone pushing you then sometimes you can take your foot off the gas a little bit.”
Alnwick new contract was one of a recent spate of deals which have been handed out to City players, all of which have been deserved. Ryan Wintle, Perry Ng, Mark McGuinness, Eli King, Joel Bagan and the Colwill brothers have all benefited from the forward planning which has been evidence since Erol Bulut took the reins.