Premier League: Rob Elliot is eyeing a Newcastle starting berth

Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot has warned Tim Krul he is gunning for his place as he continues to work hard to try and force his way into the side.

Added incentive

Elliot has an added incentive to force his way ahead of Krul in the pecking order as he attempts to fulfil his ambition of playing senior international football for the Republic of Ireland. He has to date been overlooked by current manager Giovanni Trapattoni, whose reign looks to be drawing to a close in the wake of Tuesday night's 1-0 qualifying defeat in Austria, although his lack of first-team football will not have helped. Greenwich-born Elliot, whose father's family is from Cork, said: "I would love to eventually get a call-up one day. "I played a lot at youth level. I have been slightly disappointed not to get a call-up. "But the thing is, they have got three top keepers - and one of them is my best friend in football, Darren Randolph - so I can't really complain. "It's more of a privilege to get an international call-up, you can't demand it, so I just have to keep playing well and hopefully I get noticed. "We have always been cricket England and football Ireland in my family, believe it or not, so it would be fantastic to get an opportunity. But I will just have to see how it goes."