Karl Darlow's positive PR at the start of the season is worthy of the hype - with his headline-grabbing performances backed up by statistics.
The former Nottingham Forest keeper has spent the last couple of years wondering about his future as his contract talks were left parked and he played second fiddle to Martin Dubravka.
The sticking point during those long-winded contract discussions was based on whether Darlow was worth a similar wage packet to Dubravka in the event he had to step in to cover.
Well, just five games into the new campaign it is starting to become abundantly clear that he can be depended upon.
Suggestions that he should win an England call-up were played down by some observers but no Englishman is playing better than Darlow between the posts at this moment in time.
He is flying high as the No 1 in the top-flight's goalkeeper league table on saves with 28 to his name already with England shot-stoppers Jordan Pickford (14) and Nick Pope (5) trailing behind him.
Darlow, who also dented Bruno Fernandes' perfect penalty record for Man United on Saturday night, is second in the table for high claims in the box with six to his name and nobody has more punches clear (8) than the Northamptonshire-born star.
But Darlow's statistics aren't just catching the eye in the Premier League.
As it stands he has the most saves to his name in EUROPE around all of the top leagues with those 28 stops keeping him ahead of Ligue 1 goalie Paul Bernardoni of Angers (24) and Nimes' Baptiste Reynet (23).
In fairness, there is a reason why he is making so many saves as Newcastle's defence are standing off attackers and allowing them too much space, but not every keeper can pull something special out of the bag when under pressure.
Darlow is expected to shrug off a heavy collision with Marcus Rashford in the 4-1 loss against Manchester United and at the moment, the Magpies need him.
With Mark Gillespie impressing in the cups and Darlow doing the business in the Premier League it will be interesting to see what happens when Dubravka returns from a heel injury next month.
