WHEN TIM KRUL picked up an ankle injury just before Newcastle’s game with West Ham at the end of November, Robbie Elliot seemed certain to slot in as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper for a prolonged period.

And then, midway through his third successive start against Chelsea last weekend, he tore a thigh muscle and now will be out of action until mid-January.

Alan Pardew revealed Elliot’s plight ahead of the Magpies’ trip to Arsenal in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Rob Elliot will be out for 6 or 7 games. Jak Alnwick will start in goal at Arsenal and we wish him well. There will be no Rolando Aarons or Davide Santon. We are pretty much where we were for Chelsea in terms of injuries.”

The 21 year-old Alnwick replaced Elliot at half-time during last weekend’s league clash with Jose Mourinho’s table-toppers.

In his first competitive appearance for the club, he excelled and received plenty of plaudits for the way in which he handled the pressure of the occasion.

He’ll make his first start for the club against Arsenal while 17 year-old Freddie Woodman will be on the bench.

Having lost just twice in their last ten games, a win over the Gunners on Saturday will lift Newcastle into the top-six.

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