The Daily Mail reports that Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot is to ask for a loan move away from St James’ Park. He has just returned from a long-term injury and wants a temporary deal to help him improve his match sharpness.
A trio of Sky Bet Championship clubs, Cardiff City, Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic, are all said to be interested in the 30-year-old, who last played a competitive first-team match in last March in an international friendly for the Republic of Ireland.
Elliot is currently the third-choice goalkeeper at St James’ Park, with Karl Darlow and Matz Sels currently ahead of him in the pecking order. Whilst he is prepared for fight for his place in the team in the long-term, he feels as though he needs game time at this moment in time given the fact he has not played for several months. It was in that Ireland friendly game versus Slovakia where he picked up a serious ligament injury. Elliot returned on the bench for the midweek FA Cup replay victory over Birmingham City.
Head Coach Rafa Benitez has stated that he wants three goalkeepers at the club to contest for the number one jersey so it is unknown if Elliot will indeed he granted a short-term stint away. It also remains to be seen if the three mentioned Sky Bet Championship clubs will actively pursue such a move anyway. Cardiff, Rotherham and Wigan have already signed new goalkeepers this month in the form of Allan McGregor, Richard O’Donnell and Jakob Haugaard respectively, all on loan.
