Tuesday 13 October 2015 16:22, UK
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren is confident goalkeeper Tim Krul will make a full recovery from his season-ending knee injury.
Krul ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Netherlands' 2-1 win over Kazakhstan on Saturday and it has been confirmed he will miss the remainder of the current campaign.
McClaren says the 27-year-old faces a "difficult time" as he begins his rehabilitation from the injury but is confident the player's personality will ensure he comes back strongly.
"It's a bitter blow for Tim and for us," McClaren told nufc.co.uk.
"I spoke to him on the morning of the game, he wasn't playing and - selfishly - I thought that was good, because then he would be fit for us. Then I got the news, the severity of the injury and how he did it, and it's a massive blow.
"Tim is a big part of us - he's a big player, a leader in the dressing room, and his goal was to establish himself in the Dutch side going forward.
"We will miss him for the rest of the season, and he loses seven or eight months of his career.
"It's going to be a very difficult time for him but Tim is strong, single-minded and he will come back from this injury.
"I've seen plenty of players go through this and come back just as strong, so we have no worries or concerns about what Tim will go through. The treatment and rehab he will get from us will be first class."
With their goalkeeping options already limited, Newcastle have recalled Freddie Woodman from his loan spell at Crawley Town.
McClaren is already without his second-choice Karl Darlow because of a foot injury and the club's other senior goalkeeper, Rob Elliot, has been away on international duty this week.
"I've been impressed by Rob from day one when I came into the Club," continued the boss.
"He's very vocal in the dressing room, is a senior player with good experience and is not afraid to say things. That is vital, and this situation gives Rob an opportunity to show what he can do."
