Russell Edge

Fri 22 December 2017 9:21, UK

Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot has revealed that he held crucial talks over his future with manager Rafael Benitez after being snubbed from the first team earlier this season.

The Republic of Ireland shot stopper finished last season as the first choice between the sticks and began the current campaign in the same fashion, starting each of the Magpies’ opening 13 league games.

However a series of poor performances, including the 4-1 defeat away at Manchester United and the 3-0 home loss to Watford, Elliot found himself axed from the first team, with Karl Darlow preferred by Benitez.

The 31-year-old has revealed his frustration at the manager’s decision, and detailed how he went to go speak to the Spaniard about his future and how he could get back into the first team line up.

He told the Shields Gazette: “The manager made his decision. I obviously wasn’t very happy about it.

“The manager spoke to us (Elliot and Darlow) and said we have to keep pushing each other.

“I went to go and speak to him about it, because you have to. You wouldn’t expect a player to just accept it and sulk around. I have a lot of respect for the manager – I really like him.

“I just had to give him my opinion and he gave me his. I just had to carry on working hard, and I got back in the team. That’s it really.”

Elliot was only left out of the starting XI for four games before being reintroduced to the fray for the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last week, the club’s eighth defeat in a nine game winless streak.

They travel to West Ham on Saturday looking to put a halt to their abysmal run of form and climb out of the Premier League relegation zone, currently sitting in 18th, a point off both Stoke City and Bournemouth above them.

In other Newcastle United news, the club are expected to make an official move for a 13-goal hot shot.