I just saw exactly why £10m player is going to improve Newcastle United so much this season

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Newcastle United’s friendly win over Urawa Red Diamonds might suggest that the Magpies are going to have a much better season.

While it was just a friendly, Newcastle United were able to beat Urawa Red Diamonds 4-1. Jacob Murphy got a brace, while Alexander Isak and Lewis Hall also found the net.

That trio were impressive in Japan, with Newcastle fans now predicting that Hall will enjoy a very strong season. Hopefully that is the case for the 19-year-old.

But the goalscorers were not the only ones who caught the eye during the Magpies’ first pre-season friendly in the Far East.

Nick Pope impresses for Newcastle United

Newcastle United were unable to keep a clean sheet against Urawa Reds, but that was not the fault of Nick Pope.

The 32-year-old started for Eddie Howe’s side, and was absolutely sensational. He made a string of top class saves, including one from the penalty spot.

Pope’s shot-stopping ability was on full display, much like it was against Hull City on Saturday. The England international looks very sharp heading into the new season, but it is not just his saves that should give Toon fans reason for optimism.

Pope can help Newcastle be much more successful this season

The £10million man also showcased why he is a brilliant sweeper keeper, rushing off his line on multiple occasions to clear away danger and help his defenders.

Urawa Reds tried to play the ball forward quickly on multiple occasions, attempting to get in behind the Toon defence. They looked to exploit Dan Burn’s lack of pace, but Newcastle had a solution.

When the ball came in behind, Pope was on hand to save the day. He would rush out and mop up any potential danger, with his starting position ensuring he was in the right place at the right time.

It was a stark contrast to what was happening at Newcastle United last season – when Pope was unavailable.

He suffered a shoulder injury in December, which led to Martin Dubravka becoming Newcastle’s first choice goalkeeper again. The Slovakian completely transformed the way that the Magpies defended, but not for the better.

Dubravka constantly showed an unwillingness to come off his line, leading to a huge gap between him and his defenders. There was chaos and confusion, and it resulted in a previously mean backline becoming rather porous.

In turn, that led to Newcastle enduring a worse season than they had hoped. Injuries crippled them, and Pope’s was probably the most damaging.

But Pope is fully fit now, and his presence in between the stick should allow Newcastle United to be a much better team defensively this season than they were during the 2023/24 campaign.