At 8pm on Tuesday night Newcastle United’s hopes of Premier League survival took a potentially fatal blow.
As Miroslav Stoch’s firmly struck right-footer hit the net the first thoughts of the 30,000 in the Aviva Stadium were to a clean sheet gone and then, as goalkeeper Rob Elliot stayed down in some distress, their thoughts turned to the loss of the Republic of Ireland’s only starting Premier League goalkeeper.
However, over the hushed concern, the howls of anguish emanating from the North East of England could almost be heard in Dublin.
With a serious knee ligament injury expected to be confirmed Wednesday, Elliot’s season is almost certainly over and he will join Tim Krul in the treatment room.
The first-choice goalkeeper also suffered a knee ligament injury on Holland duty back in October and the loss of two international keepers is a massive blow for a team in the midst of a desperate battle for survival.
New Magpies manager Rafa Benitez will now pitch in either Karl Darlow (25) or Fred Woodman (19) for Saturday’s relegation six-pointer at Norwich.
Darlow, who has played over 100 games for Nottingham Forest, is most likely to be entrusted with guarding the task of guarding Newcastle’s over-exposed goal for the final eight game so of the season.
The impact of the injury on Newcastle’s season was not lost on Martin O’Neill, who was all but certainly going to select the 29-year-old Elliot for Euro 2016.
“Naturally it is a big blow to him, a blow to us and a blow to his club,” said the Republic of Ireland manager. “It is really cruel at this time that he’s gone and done it.
“He’s been waiting some time now for that run of games at club level, and he got them and I have to say he was doing very, very well indeed.
“He came here, he knew he was always going to have either Friday night or tonight playing in the game, it was always going to be that way.
“He was looking forward to the match, and it is really serious.”
With arguably their most in-form player – alongside Georginio Wijnaldum – of the season ruled out for the relegation dogfight, Newcastle fans were distraught – both for Elliot and their own hopes of survival.
Our very best wishes to Rob Elliot on a speedy recovery. Pass Rob your own messages via @the_dilsh. #NUFC https://t.co/RqYxztLZPN
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 29, 2016
@the_dilsh now he is injured Newcastle are in the shitter, get well soon
— Lewis Betts (@lewisbettts) March 30, 2016
@the_dilsh as a chaplain in Newcastle city centre, I can only pray you get back soon, kidda. Onwards and upwards. Stephen
— Stephen G Scullion (@stevescullion) March 30, 2016
Gutted for @the_dilsh , he would have loved saving the toon from relegation and playing in the euros. Cruel game football 👎
— Johnny Mole (@Johnny_Mole) March 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/davidhorsefield/status/715076448713891840
Fair to say if the rest of the #NUFC squad & McClaren had pulled their weight as much as @the_dilsh this season, we wouldn't be in trouble.
— The Toon Network (@TheToonNetwork) March 29, 2016
