Newcastle United have been dealt a major blow after confirming that goalkeeper Tim Krul will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

The 27-year-old limped off during Holland's 2-1 win over Kazakhstan on Saturday and left the Astana Arena on crutches.

The Magpies have already acted upon the news, with the inexperienced Freddie Woodman having his loan spell with Crawley curtailed in order to provide back-up for second choice keeper Rob Elliot.

Tim Krul winches with pain as the medical team check his right knee during Holland's win in Kazakhstan

The Newcastle United goalkeeper is now set to miss the rest of the Premier League season

Young keeper Freddie Woodman has already taken to his Twitter account to announce his Newcastle return

Teenager Freddie Woodman (above) had been on loan at Crawley where he kept four clean sheets this season

Krul was in agony after falling awkwardly on the artificial turf after 80 minutes, in a game he only played in after first-choice Dutch stopper Jasper Cillessen pulled out during the warm-up.

Following scans on his injured right knee, the goalkeeper will now set sit out the rest of the Barclays Premier League campaign as Newcastle's struggles continue.

The Dutch stopper had taken to Twitter to show thanks for the support but the extent of the injury is likely to cause major concern for supporters.

Karl Darlow, who is understudy to Krul, is currently out injured with a foot injury

'Gutted to come off with an injury tonight. Thanks for all the get well wishes. I will know more about the extent of the injury after scans,' he wrote.

The news couldn't have come at a worse time for Steve McClaren, with No 2 Karl Darlow currently out injured with a foot injury and his return not yet pencilled in.

Republic of Ireland international Rob Elliot is in line to deputise in Krul's absence but the Magpies are desperately short of options between the sticks.