Newcastle United: 6 Key Questions Ahead of Everton Away

1. How Will Newcastle Cope Without Tim Krul?

Since the Magpies were promoted to the Premier League after an almost immaculate Championship season in 2009/10, Tim Krul has been a hugely important member of the first team, providing the solidest of foundations to what had been notoriously known as a creaking back line (rather unfairly in more recent times). Krul's presence in the Newcastle net really cannot be underestimated, given his shot-stopping ability - including in penalties - and his command of his area: yes his kicking can sometimes go array, and his decision-making is very occasionally a little ropey, but for a young goalkeeper, Krul is a fantastic talent. So how will Alan Pardew's men survive against a team that scored four against them at the tail-end of last season without their star 'keeper? In reserve Newcastle could either call on Rob Elliot, who was signed for a relatively nominal fee from Charlton, and whose debut against Nottingham Forest was less than inspiring, or veteran Geordie Steve Harper. Elliot showed in pre-season that his debut perhaps wasn't a fair reflection of his abilities with some far more assured performances, but fan confidence in him will only come from some strong performances for the first-team in more high-pressured matches. Whether a tricky away game at Everton is the best place to blood him in a Premier League game or not remains to be seen, but with Steve Harper likely to retire at the end of this season Elliot will have to be given an opportunity to prove himself as a solid back-up. On the other hand, playing the hugely experienced Harper would probably appeal to more Newcastle fans at this stage, regardless of his slight loss of agility, and Harper certainly still offers some solidity in the absence of the number one who replaced him.