Could Alan Pardew bring Newcastle United’s Rob Elliot to West Bromwich Albion?

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Newcastle United’s Rob Elliot might well interest soon-to-be West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Pardew after Rafael Benitez axed him.

Alan Pardew is set to be named as Tony Pulis’s successor at West Bromwich Albion today, according to BBC Sport, with the Baggies flirting with relegation, he should already have his eye on transfers.

Chances are, Pardew was watching his would-be team take on his old one somewhere inside at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night as Newcastle United drew 2-2 in the West Midlands.

And maybe, just maybe, the 56-year-old would have noticed the fact that Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez had dropped goalkeeper Rob Elliot, a man he has managed on Tyneside and at Charlton.

The January transfer window is around the corner and if Elliot fails to displace Karl Darlow by then you wonder whether Pardew would be open to working with the 31-year-old for a third time at West Brom.

Darlow started the draw last night and did very little to suggest that Benitez wouldn’t use him again when United travel to Chelsea this weekend.

Ben Foster has been a good servant for West Ham during his five-year stay, but he will be 35 when the season finishes and perhaps January is a good time to get a long-term option between the sticks.

Elliot, who started all of the Magpies’ Premier League games before last night, is only 31 and his taste of first-team football should be enough to make him consider his future in the North-East if the very capable Darlow makes the most of this chance he has.

There is also a mutual respect between Elliot and Pardew which is worth noting, with the Republic of Ireland keeper calling his former manager a “great guy” in an interview with The Chronicle last month.

Benitez wouldn’t be keen on the idea of losing him, but the Spaniard has previously described third-choice Freddie Woodman as ‘the future of Newcastle’ in a report by The Chronicle in July,.

Long term, Elliot’s future with the Magpies isn’t looking all that promising and it wouldn’t be a huge shock if he were to consider a move to West Brom if Pardew came knocking again.