Alan Pardew says he was left “exposed” at the Emirates Stadium in Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal.
The 21-year-old is thrust into the eye of the storm with Tim Krul and Rob Elliot both injured, and a 4-1 hammering (after Newcastle's recent good run) has many fans looking at the youngster.
He has no experience, apart from a handful of games for non-league Gateshead, and having asked Pardew for a chance in the first team ... he has his chance.
Alan Pardew (talking to NU Mad): “Jak has to prove he is a goalie, and a top goalie.
“I did think he was a little bit exposed.
"We’ve not really defended as a unit a well as we have done in the previous games, particularly Chelsea. We need to re-establish that.
“Maybe we took too many risks in trying to get something out of the game, and therefore you are going to expose your defenders and your goalie.
“We can’t afford to do that.
"I don't think it has affected his confidence.
“No, I can probably look at one goal as Jak maybe at fault.
“The second, he might have wanted to stay in his goal a bit longer without coming out. Other than that, I thought he was pretty sound.
“A few times it flashed across, and he got little touches.
“He kicked it well, looked assured. I can’t lay any blame at his door for this result, and he goes to the next game.
“This is a guy who has got in a short period of time an opportunity to make a big name for himself, and he’s the sort of guy you would want to do it.
“He’s a good honest guy, humble, and another local. So fingers crossed he does well.”