TIM KRUL should be fit to face Leicester City on Saturday after the Newcastle United goalkeeper’s elbow injury did not prove as serious as first feared.

Krul damaged his elbow while on international duty with Holland last week, and it was initially feared ligament damage could keep him on the sidelines for a prolonged spell.

However, a subsequent scan has allayed those fears, and Krul should be fit to line up against Leicester as Newcastle continue to search for their first Premier League win of the season in two days time.

The Dutchman’s availability is a major boost as Rob Elliot, who has conceded four goals on each of his last two Premier League appearances, would have been the only alternative had Krul been unavailable.

Newcastle signed the highly-rated Karl Darlow from Nottingham Forest this summer, but the 24-year-old’s loan back to the City Ground does not include a recall clause.

A Magpies statement said: “Tim Krul has been further assessed by the club’s medical staff and the club can confirm that he has nothing more than a very minor elbow injury.

“The club will continue to monitor the situation but are confident that he will be available for the game against Leicester City on Saturday.”

Newcastle are also monitoring the fitness of full-backs Daryl Janmaat and Paul Dummett, who were both forced to pull out of international duty this week.

Janmaat is nursing a minor hamstring injury while Dummett is suffering from a muscular problem, but both players have a decent chance of being passed fit for Saturday.

While Massadio Haidara would be a ready-made replacement for Dummett at left-back should the Welshman not complete his recovery in time, Janmaat’s absence would create more of a problem on the opposite flank.

His fellow Dutchman, Vurnon Anita, would be his likeliest replacement, although the midfielder did not look particularly well suited to the right-back role when he filled it on a number of occasions last season.

Neither Papiss Cisse nor Cheick Tiote are expected to take part in full training today as they were involved in international call-ups for Senegal and Ivory Coast respectively yesterday.

The pair are only due to return to England today, so Pardew must decide whether to play them against Leicester with only one training session under their belt.

Given his side’s struggles this season, the Newcastle boss will surely be tempted to play both Tiote, who has returned to strengthen the midfield in recent matches, and Cisse, who has scored his side’s last four league goals.

However, Pardew has previously spoken about the risks of playing his African players within 48 hours of them returning from international duty on their home continent.