Nick Pope has been a brilliant signing for Newcastle United and continues to keep his place in the side despite the summer arrival of Aaron Ramsdale.
While there have sometimes been frustrations about Pope’s ability on the ball, the Newcastle United star continues to have the backing of Eddie Howe.
Newcastle paid £10million for Pope during the summer of 2022 and the former Burnley goalkeeper has proven well worth the money.
At club level, he’s shown little sign of slowing down.
The story with England, however, is a little different. Pope has ten caps for his country but has not played for the Three Lions since a 3-3 draw with Germany in September 2022.
Now out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad, Leeds fans were keen to remind him of that at Elland Road on Saturday.
- Who is Nick Pope? Get to know the Newcastle United No.1 goalkeeper
Leeds fans aim jibe at Nick Pope
Pope started for Newcastle away at Leeds on Saturday.
During a reasonably uneventful first-half in the driving rain at Elland Road, the home supporters appeared to poke fun at Pope’s situation with England.
Indeed, as per Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post on social media platform X, Leeds fans were chanting “England’s Number Six” at the 33-year-old.
Leeds wanted to sign Nick Pope
Earlier this summer, Leeds were interested in signing Pope.
The former Charlton youngster was being linked with an exit as Newcastle pursued the signing of a new goalkeeper.
Still, Pope decided to stay at Newcastle and fight for his place. At one point, James Trafford looked almost certain to come in and battle him, but it ended up being Ramsdale.
Thus far, Pope has been vindicated in his decision. Ramsdale is yet to start and there would currently appear to be little need for Howe to make a change in goal just yet.
Pope might be far down the pecking order with England but he remains a key part of the Newcastle set-up.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
