Does Cubase Elements 7 support external MIDI

Cubase
1

I haven’t sequenced or recorded using a computer in many years so have been out of the loop.
Before buying Elements 7, I would first like to know:

  1. Does Elements 7 support external MIDI synths (with the 5 pin cable)?
  2. Can I use my ECHO LAYLA 24/97 as my sound card for Elements 7?
  3. If I can’t use my LAYLA, what is a good cheap Windows 7/64 sound card with MIDI connection for Elements 7?

Thanks,
Kelly