Newcastle United's Premier League survival hopes have been dealt a severe blow with the news keeper Rob Elliot requires surgery on his injured knee and is out for a minimum of six months.

The club doctor Paul Catterson and his medical staff are set to carry out further MRI scans on Elliott on Wednesday when the player arrives back in the north east, although Elliot has been told the initial assessment shows he has injured his cruciate ligament and needs surgery.

Elliot was carried off whilst playing for the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday.