Rob Elliot’s tale of the unexpected

Want to know what a difference eight months can make? Just ask Rob Elliot, the goalkeeper who has gone from being surplus to requirements at Newcastle United as recently as last August to becoming one of the club’s players of the season as the Magpies battle to retain their Premier League status.

It’s a run of first-team form which also means he’ll not only add to his three Ireland caps in the Easter friendlies but is increasingly well-placed to claim one of the goalkeeping berths in Martin O’Neill’s Euros squad.

“I know football changes quickly, but if you’d have said to me I’d have played 20-odd games in a row for Newcastle this year I would have been very surprised,” says the softly-spoken 29-year-old. “I suppose that’s the way football goes, and it’s turned around very nicely for me. It’s just been nice to be able to perform every week and show people what I can do consistently.