Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow would have hoped that the club’s return to the Premier League would have been a fruitful one on a personal level.

However, the 27-year-old has had to watch from the bench for all 11 top-flight fixtures so far.

Darlow was a regular fixture during the Magpies’ title-winning campaign in the Championship last season, but since Rob Elliot has returned to fitness, the number one spot has been out of reach.

In fact, the ex-Nottingham Forest shot-stopper has made just one appearance this season – the second round of the Carabao Cup against his former club.

Understandably, Darlow has been unhappy with his lack of game time, but ultimately respects Rafael Benitez’s selection decisions.

The Chronicle quotes the goalkeeper as saying:

“Of course it’s been a frustrating start for me. I’ve wanted to play but it’s the manager’s decision so I have to stick by it, just keep working hard on the training ground and hope things improve for myself.

“But I’m so pleased for the lads because we worked so hard last season to get up and to see them doing well in the Premier League is excellent. I relish the chance to play Premier League football again. It’s what I want to do, and I’ll keep trying my hardest to make it a reality again.”

Elliot is expected to be in between the sticks when the North-East outfit take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the late kickoff on Saturday.

Newcastle head into the clash on the back of two defeats in a row.