NEWCASTLE United manager Alan Pardew has revealed Tim Krul will be out until mid January with an ankle injury.

The keeper was initially expected to miss a month of action after he suffered ligament damage in training last week, but the Magpies boss confirmed the Dutch international’s lay-off could stretch to the middle of January.

Republic of Ireland international Rob Elliot deputised in the 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday and he will get the chance to impress in crucial fixtures this month.

Newcastle entertain Chelsea on Saturday after tomorrow’s night’s trip to Burnley with Arsenal, Tottenham, Sunderland and Manchester United all to come before the end of the year.

“I think he'll be back mid-Jan or start of Jan if we're lucky,” Pardew admitted.

“It's a big blow for us. Robbie certainly needed the West Ham game. That's where the League Cup games can be very importat.

“We get so much abuse from the media when we chop and change but we've chopped and changed over the last seven games and won six of them “Robbie is more than capable of deputising, he's an Irish international. We wish him well.”

Injuries and suspensions mean Pardew has only 18 senior players fit for the game at Turf Moor with problems mounting in midfielder and defence.

Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback are suspended, while Mike Williamson, Daryl Janmaat and Massadio Haidara are all struggling to be fit.