Rob Elliot eyes pre-season return

Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot has claimed that he will be back on the first day of pre-season training following elbow surgery.

The shotstopper, who made 17 appearances in all competitions during the last campaign, recently went under the knife to correct a persistent injury concern.

"I was in and out very quickly and the operation itself took less than an hour," Elliot told the club's official website. "It was something that needed to be done and couldn't be left any longer, so it worked out well in the end."

Elliot joined Newcastle from Charlton Athletic on a five-year contract in summer 2011.