Rob Elliot has not played a match for Newcastle United since March.
Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot has told the Chronicle that it could be tough for him to even get back on the substitutes’ bench, when he returns to fitness, such is the competition for places now at St. James’ Park.
Elliot was one of Newcastle’s stand out performers towards the start of the 2015/16 campaign, but a serious injury he picked up on international duty has kept him out for a lengthy period of time.
Elliot has not played a match since March, when he was Newcastle’s first choice goalkeeper, but he is edging closer to fitness now.
When he does return, Elliot will be in direct competition with Karl Darlow and Matz Sels for a place in Newcastle’s goal.
And the Republic of Ireland international admits that the quality of Newcastle’s goalkeepers, means that he cannot just assume he’ll go straight back into Rafael Benitez’s first-team.
“If you look at the goalkeepers currently, Matz has done well since he come in and kept four clean sheets, almost one every other game,” Elliot said.
“Then we had a couple of results and Karl came in and has done great. Matz is away with Belgium now, Tim is with Ajax and hopefully I will be back fit soon.
“It’s great for me to come back because I know it will be hard to even get back on the bench before I even think about playing.”
Sels began this season as Newcastle number one goalkeeper, but he has been replaced by Karl Darlow.
The former Nottingham Forest man has impressed for the Magpies, and kept five clean sheets in the nine matches he has played.
Newcastle have won their last eight matches to move to the top of the Championship table.
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