CHRIS Powell expects Rob Elliot to be involved for the Addicks on Saturday, despite interest from Newcastle United in the keeper.

The Valley manager today confirmed the Geordies had made an enquiry for Elliot, who is out of contract in the summer.

However, Alan Pardew has yet to make an official offer for the keeper and until he does, it is business as usual as far as Powell is concerned.

When asked if Elliot would be involved in Saturday’s home date with Scunthorpe, the Addicks boss replied: “I hope so.

“I can’t stop anyone from having ambitions to play higher because I’ve been there as a player in my past.

“You want every player to get there, you want them to do it with us, and I would love Robbie to do it with us because he is one of us.

“But until something concrete happens I’m preparing for him to play.

“People can show interest, and we’ve had it with other players, but until it is something which is concrete and been agreed by both clubs before they speak to the player, then fine I can’t stop that.

“But if he is here, he is fit and is contributing as he has done so far then i would be prepared fort him to play.”

Powell also made it clear there had been no conversation between him and the player yet over Newcastle’s initial interest.

“No, there is no need because there has been a phone call but nothing for us to say he has to go up and have a medical and speak,” the boss said.

“It is at a very embryonic stage at the moment.”

And it isn’t even clear yet whether the Premier League side will take it any further at this stage, as Powell explained.

He said: “I’m led to believe there has been a little bit of interest from Newcastle but whether they follow that up with anything concrete remains to be seen.

“I knew a few weeks ago this may happen and people were wandering why I was looking at the golakeeping situation, but because of the contract situation with Rob I just had to make sure I was covered and obviously we’ll see if anything develops from their initial interest.

“Rob will be a free here at the end of the year if he doesn’t agree a contract here.

“I’ve always said I rate Rob as a keeper and he has started off the season very well, but we’ve been trying to tie up all of our players, which we’ve done with Johnnie Jackson and Scott Wagstaff.

“I wanted Rob tied up alongside the players I’ve brought into the club.

“It hasn’t happened so I just felt I don’t want to be caught short because if I hadn’t brought in another keeper (Ben Hamer) to add to the two we’ve got, if I lost Rob then I would be left with one senior keeper.

“It was just something I had to prepare and think about and we will see what happens in the future.”

But the Valley chief acknowledged the uncertainty over Elliot’s long-term future is something which needs to be resolved quickly.

Powell said: “Of course it does.

“I can’t stop people having an interest in any of my players but that is how football is, especially if you start of quite well because people take notice of what you are doing, which is great for myself and for us as a club.

“But you’ve just got to get on with it really and I don’t know what will happen.

“I don’t want my players unsettled, that’s for certain because they are in a good frame of mind, even the ones that aren’t playing.

“They’re in a good frame of mind because they are all sharing in the decent start we’ve had.

“Obviously it is something I would like done one way or the other and then we move forward from there.”

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