NEWCASTLE AND IRELAND goalkeeper Rob Elliot has said confirmation that he had suffered a cruciate ligament injury left him in tears.

The 29-year-old stopper picked up the injury during Ireland’s recent 2-2 friendly draw with Slovakia, with the club yesterday confirming he would be out of action for “several months” as a result.

The setback means Elliot will miss Newcastle’s crucial run-in as they bid to avoid relegation, while he will also now be unable to represent Ireland at the 2016 Euros.

“When I found out it was my cruciate ligament, that’s when the tears came,” Elliot told Newcastle’s official website. “There was a wave of emotion, knowing I would miss the rest of the season with Newcastle and the Euros with Ireland.”

With Dutch stopper Tim Krul also out with a long-term injury, Elliot also spoke of how he immediately got in touch with Magpies third-choice goalkeeper Karl Darlow after learning the news.

“I messaged Karl as soon as I knew about my injury because I wanted him to know and to be ready,” he said. “I know how good a goalkeeper he is already and how good he is going to be.”

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland — who will also miss the Euros through injury — has tweeted his commiserations to Elliot, while Darren Randolph also expressed sympathy with his fellow Ireland goalkeeper following Tuesday’s match, saying:

I’ve grown up with him since I was 15. I know him quite well. You don’t want to see it happen to anybody at any stage, let alone where he was — he’s been on fire.

“It’s never a good time for it to happen, but this is probably the worst possible time.”

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