With Shay Given injured, Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has ruled out recalling goalkeeper Tim Krul from Falkirk.

"Tim Krul isn't an option," he said last night. "I've spoken to the staff and the consensus is that he's too inexperienced and too young, he has great potential but he needs more experience playing first-team football at a lesser club.

"That's better than bringing him here and putting him into a situation he's not capable of coping with at the moment. That could damage his confidence and as a young goalkeeper it might mean he doesn't develop to that level."