Rob Elliot reacts to a summer of speculation at Newcastle

Rafa Benitez’s side were beaten 1-0 by Huddersfield Town at the weekend.

The loss followed the opening-weekend defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

And Elliot – who has started the campaign as Benitez’s first-choice goalkeeper – admits the euphoria of winning the Championship is now a distant memory ahead of back-to-back home games.

Newcastle take on Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup tomorrow night and entertain West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.

“It feels like the joy and the unbelievable feeling of coming up has sort of been shrouded since then,” said Elliot. “It seems to have gone away very quickly before we kicked a ball.

“I think that’s out of our hands – and the manager’s.

“The only thing we can do is make sure on the pitch we’re doing the right things and working hard in training, which we are, and then the injuries and the result last week and (against Huddersfield), we’re not getting the rub of the green.

“But that’s the Premier League. You get punished for anything. That’s the difference between that and the Championship.

“We need to regroup. We need to make sure we get St James’s behind us and we can kickstart the campaign.”

A second-half strike from Aaron Mooy saw Huddersfield take all three points at the John Smith’s Stadium.

“We knew it was Huddersfield’s day in terms of their first home game in the Premier League,” said Elliot.

“We knew it was going to be a fast start – we know they like to press and have a high tempo – and I thought we dealt with that really well.

“We got through the tough patch and started to play some good football and creating chances on the break.

“Unfortunately, with the goal in the second half, we’ve got to stop the goal before he gets a chance to shoot.

“Then you’re chasing the game, and though we didn’t create too much after that, the half-chances we created and chances we did create, you’re just hoping it fell to someone to put it away.”

United manager Benitez wants to further strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes. However, Elliot will be relieved when the window closes.

“With the stories flying around, I don’t think it’s very fair on the squad,” said Elliot. “They did such a terrific job last year, and we’ve brought in some good players.

“We just wanted it to be about looking forward to the Premier League. Unfortunately, it’s not been that, but as a group we now have to stay strong.

“Playing for Newcastle isn’t like playing for other clubs.

“The pressure and the expectation that comes with it, you’ve got to be able to handle that to play for Newcastle.

“I think the lads have done done brilliantly and the new signings look good. I think we just need to gel.”