Newcastle confident of being allowed to make goalkeeper signing - see who their targets might be here

Rob Elliot suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury during Saturday’s goalless draw with Stoke City, and is regarded as a major doubt for the trip to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.

With Tim Krul and Karl Darlow both nursing long-term injury problems, untried 18-year-old Freddie Woodman is the next in line, but while the teenager has impressed with England Under-19s in the past, Newcastle do not regard him as a ‘senior goalkeeper’.

The same applies to academy duo Paul Woolston and Brendan Pearson, so Newcastle officials spent yesterday constructing a case they will present to the Premier League later today.

“We will have to investigate it because we fear the worst with Rob and we have only got one keeper,” said Steve McClaren. “We will look at it because it is a bad situation to be in.

“Freddie is 18 years old, and this is the big league – it’s the unknown. He certainly has ability and talent, but he is a keeper for the future. We very nearly had to play him (against Stoke) though because we expected Rob to come off at one stage. He was wincing at one point and I feared the worst, so we will have to assess that.”

Last season, Newcastle were denied permission to sign a goalkeeper on an emergency loan when injuries to both Krul and Elliot forced them to play Jak Alnwick for a four-week spell. The difference on that occasion, however, was that the Magpies had a fit Darlow on their books, even though he was on loan at Nottingham Forest.

The relevant Premier League rule, which is point 54 of section six of the regulations, states: “Such provisions (the emergency loan of goalkeepers) will only be granted should all registered professional goalkeepers at a club be ruled out on medical grounds (or due to suspensions).”

This time around, senior Newcastle sources are confident the club fulfils the criteria, and it is hoped a new signing could be in place by tomorrow, giving him four days in which to train with his team-mates before travelling to the south coast.

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WHO COULD NEWCASTLE LOOK TO SIGN?

VICTOR VALDES (33, Manchester United)

Pros: Vastly experienced at the highest level, not needed at Old Trafford, would be desperate to put himself in the shop window.

Cons: Only two senior appearances in the last 18 months, hasn’t even been playing reserve games, limited experience in England.

STEVE HARPER (40, Unregistered)

Pros: Knows Newcastle inside out, freely available and would be popular with the fans, proved he can still cut it at Hull last season.

Cons: Hasn’t been training with a club since the start of the summer, age might finally have caught up with him.

BRAD JONES (33, Unregistered)

Pros: Available after leaving Bradford by mutual consent last week, played under Steve McClaren at Middlesbrough.

Cons: Was dropped by Bradford after struggling at the start of the season, hasn’t played regularly for a number of years.

RICHARD WRIGHT (37, Manchester City)

Pros: Boasts considerable experience, isn’t needed by Manchester City, knows what it takes to succeed in the Premier League.

Cons: Hasn’t made a senior appearance for anyone since 2011, his best days are surely long behind him, has started to move into coaching.

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The loan would initially be for seven days, and the Premier League have granted similar dispensations in the past, most notably when Manchester City were able to sign Sunderland reserve Marton Fulop in 2010 despite having Faroe Islands youngster Gunnar Nielsen in their academy squad.

Former Spain international Victor Valdes, who is currently the third-choice at Manchester United, is regarded as a viable option for the Magpies, while ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has continued to train since his summer release from Hull City and recently spoke about his desire to return to the game.

“You need a top keeper,” said McClaren. “I said that a few weeks ago after Tim Krul got injured, and Jack’s (Butland) performance just reiterated what I said about goalkeepers.

“They win you points, and goalkeepers are very important for you. Robbie made a very good save at the end (against Stoke) to show once again it is an important position.”

Saturday’s draw leaves Newcastle stranded in the relegation zone, and means they have now won just one of their 11 Premier League matches so far this season.

Butland’s inspired performance was the key factor in their failure to take all three points, but if last month’s six-goal romp against Norwich City is ignored, they have claimed just six goals in their ten other league outings this term.

That is a major worry, although McClaren remains adamant his side’s overall performance has improved markedly since the start of the campaign.

“We are where we deserve to be because we were not good enough in the first four or five games,” he said. “That was when we were not creating chances and were conceding goals.

“Now, I think everybody can see the progress we have made. As Colo (Fabricio Coloccini) was saying in the changing rooms after the game, if we keep going this way, we will be okay.”