NEWCASTLE UNITED remain determined to sign Loris Karius on a short-term contract, but are understood to be holding off on an official announcement of the goalkeeper’s arrival as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Magpies’ goalkeeping situation took a significant turn for the worse last week when Karl Darlow suffered an ankle ligament injury that is expected to keep him on the sidelines until the Premier League’s November break for the start of the World Cup.

With Martin Dubravka having joined Manchester United on loan, Eddie Howe has opted to enter the free-agent market in order to ensure he has sufficient cover for first-choice shot-stopper Nick Pope.

Newcastle officials held preliminary talks with Ben Foster, who is a free agent following his release from Watford in the summer, but Howe opted to move for Karius, who has been without a club since being released from Liverpool at the end of last season.

Karius, who played for Liverpool in a Champions League final, has agreed to join Newcastle on a short-term basis, and the finer details of the 29-year-old’s contract are understood to have been signed off.

However, Newcastle have held off announcing Karius’ arrival following the announcement of the Queen’s death on Thursday. With this weekend’s footballing programme having been postponed during a period of national mourning, Magpies officials did not feel it was appropriate to make a formal club announcement on Friday or over the weekend.

Newcastle are awaiting confirmation that Saturday’s scheduled home game with Bournemouth will go ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, Bruno Guimaraes has been named in Brazil’s squad for this month’s World Cup warm-up matches against Ghana and Tunisia, but his fellow Magpies midfielder, Joelinton, has not received a maiden call-up.

Brazil face Ghana on September 23 and Tunisia on September 27, with both matches due to be played in France.