ROB ELLIOT has admitted that all the transfer talk this summer has had a negative impact on Newcastle United’s start to life back in the Premier League.

But the Magpies shot-stopper still feels the Magpies will come good in the top-flight under Rafael Benitez if the focus centres on what happens on-the-field rather than off it.

Former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton suggested in an interview with TalkSport yesterday that Benitez should stop “moaning” because his unhappiness is not “helping”.

Newcastle continue to look for ways to bolster Benitez’s squad, with a goalkeeper, defender and midfielder the priorities at the very least. He also knows unwanted players have to be moved on too to reduce the wage bill.

The focus has heightened after a second defeat in a row at Huddersfield on Sunday, and Elliot is desperate for the window to close so everyone can concentrate on what matters: results.

The goalkeeper said: “With the stories flying around and (we) haven't got enough, (we) have got enough, I don't think it's very fair on the squad. They did such a terrific job last year and we've brought in some good players.

“We just wanted it to be about looking forward to the Premier League season, unfortunately it's not been that but as a group we now have to stay strong and take that on board.

“Playing for Newcastle isn't like playing for other clubs, the pressure and the expectation that comes with it, you've got to be able to handle that to play for Newcastle. I think the lads have done and they've done brilliantly and the new signings look good. I think we just need to gel, get settled and push on for ourselves.”

The pressure will grow on everyone if Nottingham Forest, who defeated Middlesbrough in the Championship on Saturday, make things worse in the Carabao Cup tie tomorrow; and then Newcastle face another home date against West Ham on Saturday.

Elliot said: “We said in the dressing room we didn't want to start off with two defeats but we did that last year and won the league. I'm not saying we're going to win the league this year but I don't think it means that the world's coming to an end and we have to look with despair.

“We can work with what we need to work on but I think there's a lot more positives than previous Premier League years and hopefully we can push on and make sure that we're putting things right and getting that rub of the green and hopefully get all of our players back from injury.”

Newcastle’s frustrations have mounted because of injuries to Paul Dummett and £8.7m defender Florian Lejeune, while key midfielder Jonjo Shelvey’s tendency to see red has earned him a three-match ban too.

Benitez has spoken about the momentum created from promotion dwindling away over the summer, and Elliot has agreed.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said: “It feels like the joy and the unbelievable feeling of coming up has sort of been shrouded since then. It seems to have gone away very quickly before we kicked a ball.

“I think that's out of our hands and the manager's but the only thing we can do is make sure on the pitch we're doing the right things and working hard in training, which we are, and then the injuries and the results, we're not getting the rub of the green but that's the Premier League, you get punished for anything, that's the difference between that and the Championship.

“We need to regroup, we've got the cup game Wednesday and then West Ham at home and we need to make sure we get St James' behind us and we can kickstart the campaign.”

Newcastle have not scored a goal in either of their league games so far, with Dwight Gayle replaced in both. Ideally Benitez, who has looked at a range of forwards, would still add an extra attacking option to go with Joselu.

Elliot said: “There was a bit of a bug in the camp beforehand at Huddersfield. Dwight had to come off which is a pity because the longer games go on the more he gets chances. Big Joselu did fantastic when he came on, looks a real good signing for us, and hopefully with the attacking quality we've got we can implement that in the games coming up.”