ELL OF A BATTLE
After his injury hell and Euro heartbreak, Rob’s fighting to be Toon No.1
NEWCASTLE keeper Rob Elliot is bracing himself for the battle to prove he can be Rafa Benitez’s No.1.
The Ireland international missed most of last season with the cruciate ligament injury that heartbreakingly forced him out of Euro 2016.
So, after winning his fight for fitness, reports that Benitez (below) wants a new keeper to bolster Toon’s Premier League campaign – after winning the Championship last season – are not going to prompt him to wave the white flag.
Benitez has seen moves for Darren Randolph and Joe Hart fall through, but is clearly pushing for another keeper. Elliot, 31, said: “There are already a lot of keepers at the club so, when the rumours start flying around, you can’t really worry.
“You just have to work hard, take your chances in games, play well and try to remind the manager you want to be No.1.
“You do need to have three keepers and the manager obviously wants to bring another one in. But that happens at every club. It doesn’t change the way I feel.
“I’ve got to keep working hard and prove myself. I’ve been here a long time and always backed myself.
“Hopefully, I can get the nod and start playing the way I did towards the back end of last season and in the Premier League the season before that.”
Benitez is ready to listen to offers for his two rivals for a place in the team – Tim Krul and Karl Darlow.
Elliot said: “When you play for Newcastle, you feel like you’re playing a Premier League game every time you play.
“The pressure that comes with playing for Newcastle sets you in good stead for the division.
“Because I’ve got previous experience of playing in the Premier League, I do feel that I am a Premier League player. But now I have got to go out there and prove it.”