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Krul: "It's Great To Be Back"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Goalkeeper Tim Krul spoke to nufc.co.uk after returning to action on Thursday afternoon
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Goalkeeper Tim Krul returned to action on Thursday afternoon and has set his sights on being available for United's Barclays Premier League trip to Chelsea this weekend.
The Dutch international has been sidelined for the last six weeks with an ankle injury sustained during training, but made his comeback in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Celtic.
Krul played the opening 45 minutes of the 3-1 defeat at Newcastle's Benton-based Training Centre, in which Alex Gilliead netted for the Magpies, and told nufc.co.uk it was great to pull on the gloves again.
"Game situations are always different to the ones you get in training, and better too, which is why I wanted to play in this game," he explained.
"So I'm pleased to get back on the pitch and get back in my rhythm.
"My ankle is feeling really good. It's strong and I'm not feeling any problem at all.
"I'm dying to be back because I'm not very good at watching games from the sidelines. We've got a great game on Saturday against Chelsea so hopefully I can get through the next couple of days and be back in contention for the weekend.
"I've been training hard to be back and hopefully the moment is there on Saturday."
In ten games without Krul, United have won just twice - picking up a couple of draws as well - and the former ADO Den Haag youngster admits he has cut a frustrated figure on the treatment table.
"I'm not a good watcher at the best of times, and even worse when results aren't going our way," he said.
"It's hard because you want to be part of the team, but hopefully I can be again now.
"There's two big games coming up - Chelsea away and Southampton at home. Chelsea is especially tough but we beat them at home so we know what we have to do."
And Krul had words of encouragement for rookie stopper Jak Alnwick, who kept goal in absence of the Dutchman and number two Rob Elliot, who has also been injured.
"I think Jak has done great," said Krul of the 21-year-old.
"The run he's been in goal, there have been no easy games at all.
"And for someone who hasn't had a run of first games before in his career, I think he's been amazing.
"It's natural that he is going to make mistakes - I did that when I first came into the team, and every goalkeeper does - but he will become a better goalkeeper for this experience.
"It has been so valuable to his education playing at places like Tottenham and Arsenal and in a massive match like the Tyne-Wear derby, and he will look back at this time and realise just how good it has been for him."