The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has now revealed that Karl Darlow's injury for Newcastle United is not long-term.

The Lowdown: Training injury

As per Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Keith Downie, Darlow suffered an ankle injury in training this week, and so the St. James' Park outfit are set to sign free agent Loris Karius as his replacement.

Darlow's latest setback means that they have two senior goalkeepers in the squad available in Nick Pope and Mark Gillespie, with Karius set to join that group.

The Latest: Not long-term

Taking to Twitter after Downie's news, Hope has revealed that Darlow's injury is not a long-term issue:

"Loris Karius is set to join Newcastle as short-term cover for the injured Karl Darlow, as per reports. I'm told Darlow problem is not long-term, but cover is needed. Ex Liverpool keeper Karius is currently a free agent."

He added that the 31-year-old is 'likely' to be out until a time approaching the break for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November:

"Karl Darlow ankle problem is likely to keep him out until a time approaching the break for World Cup. Loris Karius deal is expected to be until January."

The Verdict: Still not ideal

Even though Darlow's injury is not as serious as perhaps first feared, it is still not ideal to have him ruled out for the next couple of months.

Yes, Karius can come in as a depute for Pope, but he has not played any football recently as a free agent, and so will need time to adapt to life at St. James' Park - the very fact the deal is only until January suggests a lack of confidence from those upstairs.

Nonetheless, the Magpies now have a growing injury list that already includes Jonjo Shelvey, Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimaraes, Allan Saint-Maximin and Emil Krafth, so Eddie Howe will be hoping that Darlow can make a swift recovery.