EDDIE HOWE feels Nick Pope has underlined why he remains Newcastle United’s number one goalkeeper since returning to full fitness – and has urged the 32-year-old not to give up on his England aspirations.
Pope was sidelined for two-and-a-half months after suffering a knee injury in early December, and initially struggled to rediscover his best form when he returned to action in mid-February.
His form stepped up significantly in the 1-0 win at West Ham in the middle of last month, and he played a crucial role in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley, making a vital second-half save from Curtis Jones.
Earlier this year, there was talk over whether Pope would be able to reclaim his number one spot from Martin Dubravka, but Howe always retained faith in his preferred shot-stopper and has been delighted with his recent displays.
“I think Nick has had a difficult season with injury, and it’s like any player coming back from injury, there is always a period of rustiness, depending on the situation and the length of time out,” said the Newcastle boss, ahead of this evening’s home game with Brentford.
“I think we saw Nick in his best form in the last two games, against West Ham and Liverpool - he played really, really well and he had to. There were big moments in those games where we needed him and he responded.
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“I have to say that since the cup final he has also trained outstandingly well. He has looked in really good shape. Fingers crossed, he is over his injury problems, and he can stay fit and continue to play well.”
Newcastle have been linked with a big-money move for a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window, with Burnley’s James Trafford known to have been a long-term target.
Pope will enter the final year of his Magpies contract this summer, but Howe insists he remains as influential and important as ever.
And while Thomas Tuchel left Newcastle’s number one out of his squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, instead selecting Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale and Trafford as the back-ups to established number one Jordan Pickford, Howe sees no reason why Pope cannot return to the England fold at some stage in the future.
“I’m sure he still has international ambitions,” said the Magpies boss. “I haven’t necessarily had those conversations at length with him. It’s been about regaining his best form and training and everything that goes into delivering your best form.
“We’ve tried to focus on that with him, but I’m sure he’ll have his individual aims and ambitions and why not? For me, he’s an outstanding shot-stopper and he showed that against Liverpool with his save from Curtis Jones.”
