According to Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, Rob Elliott’s understudy appearance against West Ham last week may not have been a one-time occurrence.
Pardew said Elliott may be the starter in goal “for the next four or five games” as Tim Krul has gone down with an ankle injury.
The Dutch keeper picked up the knock in training last week and could miss a home date with Chelsea, a visit to the Emirates, a League Cup trip to Spurs and the Tyne-Wear Derby with Sunderland just four days before Christmas.
“It’s been blow after blow this year,” said Pardew after the 1-0 defeat to West Ham. “But we’ve rode them, and that’s been the key to our success. We’ve put younger players in. We lose Tim, but Rob’s produced a super performance.”
Newcastle had won five straight matches before the loss this weekend, with Krul keeping four clean sheets during that span. He’s conceded just two goals since the first week of October.
Krul suffered elbow ligament damage earlier in this season, but did not miss time and has consequently started every Premier League match this season for the Magpies.
