Peter Beardsley has moved to praise the returning Rob Elliot following his outing for the club’s U23 side in their 4-2 win over Aston Villa.
It’s been a long road for the goalkeeper, who made his first competitive appearance in nine months after he picked up a cruciate knee injury on international duty.
However, the Republic of Ireland international showed little signs of rustiness as the Magpies’ development side blew away Villa.
In fact, the 30-year-old even pulled off a trademark stunning save to prevent Jerell Sellars from making it a tense finish for the Toon Army.
With Matz Sels struggling to convince within the first-team ranks, there’s every chance Elliot could be battling Karl Darlow for the No.1 spot very soon indeed.
He, along with Tim Krul, are overcoming long-term injuries as they look to get back to full fitness as Newcastle plot a quick-fire return to the Premier League.
”He proved last night what a top goalkeeper he is. That save at the end was brilliant – I told him in the dressing room that I never thought the lad was going to score”, Beardsley told nufc.co.uk.
”I always knew he was going to save it.”
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