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Newcastle United may have to turn to the emergency loan market after Rob Elliot scraped through the 0-0 draw with Stoke City with a thigh injury.

The Magpies stopper played through the pain barrier but ended the game hobbling as Newcastle’s goalkeeping crisis worsened.

Tim Krul is ruled out for the season with a knee injury while Karl Darlow is a fortnight away from a return.

Should Elliot, described a “doubt” for the game with AFC Bournemouth next week, be ruled out for the trip to the south coast, Newcastle will be down to just one professional keeper in Fred Woodman.

And that will be enough to pursue an emergency loan deal. Steve McClaren was asked if Elliot would out next week: “There’s a good chance because it’s a recurrence of the one that he had long-term, so we don’t hold out much hope. He just got through that.

“He winced at the end, could have come off, but wanted to stay on, so he’s a major doubt, probably, for next week. We are just going to assess it now.”

McClaren was asked if Woodman would play at Bournemouth next week.

Speaking about the 18-year-old, McClaren said: “We are certainly looking at the situation and seeing what we can do because that’s three of our senior goalkeepers injured.”

Newcastle boss McClaren almost played Woodman instead of Elliot and explained: “We didn’t think he would and he didn’t feel right this morning, but he insisted on having a fitness test.

“We allowed that and he came through and said, ‘Play me’.”