Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot has admitted that he was reduced to tears when he realised that he had suffered a serious knee injury.
The 29-year-old sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage during Republic of Ireland's 2-2 draw with Slovakia on Tuesday evening, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and this summer's European Championship.
Elliot revealed that he immediately knew the injury might be serious, but vowed to be positive in his approach to recovering from the problem.
"Sustaining the injury happened in a split-second. The ball was played across the goal and I moved across to get in line," he told Newcastle's official website.
"I dived after the ball as I would do in any training session or any game, but I felt pain straight away. Watching it back, I grabbed my knee before I'd even landed.
"When I found out it was my cruciate ligament, that's when the tears came. There was a wave of emotion, knowing I would miss the rest of the season with Newcastle and the Euros with Ireland. But you have to let that come, get past it and then look to be positive."
With Tim Krul also sidelined by a serious knee injury, Newcastle must now turn to third-choice goalkeeper Karl Darlow in their battle against relegation.
Barney Corkhill
