CONFIRMED: Rob Elliot out for six months with knee injury

Confirmation of Rob Elliot's terrible misfortune.

A rare bright spot in Newcastle's awful season, the goalkeeper was enjoying some just desserts with a call-up for the Republic of Ireland that would likely cement his place in Martin O'Neil's Euro 2016 squad. However in the 15th minute of Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Slovakia the 29 year old suffered a season-ending knee injury in the concession of the visitors' first goal. Sky Sports News reported Wednesday morning that the ligament damage will keep Elliot out for six months - meaning the stopper will miss Newcastle's Premier League run-in, Euro 2016, the start of the next club season and Ireland's opening World Cup qualifier with Serbia. https://twitter.com/SkySportsNewsHQ/status/715124274848210945 The confirmation is good news for Shay Given, who is likely to return from injury this weekend for Stoke City - who lost Jack Butland to an ankle injury during the international break.