Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, the club have confirmed.
Assessments have revealed the 27-year-old ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Holland’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Kazakhstan on Saturday.
A club statement added that Krul will now return to Tyneside for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The news is a serious blow for Magpies manager Steve McClaren, who is already without second-choice keeper Karl Darlow due to a foot injury.
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The statement added: “Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Krul suffered the injury when he landed awkwardly on the artificial surface and was forced off after 81 minutes of Holland’s 2-1 win at the Astana Arena.
Newcastle have also announced that 18-year-old Freddie Woodman has been recalled from his loan spell at League Two Crawley.
The club have endured a poor start to the season and are bottom of the Barclays Premier League without a win after eight games.
Krul released a statement via Twitter which read: “I’m devastated the scan has confirmed my biggest fear that I have torn my knee cruciate playing for Holland in the game vs Kazakhstan last night. My recovery and hard work starts now to fully recover.
“I’m devastated I can’t play a part on the pitch to help the team turn this season around. I still believe this club can and should be up there with the top teams.”
