It has been a strange season for Newcastle United’s Nick Pope.
The £10m star has been fantastic at times, including in the recent controversial draw with Paris Saint-Germain, but hasn’t always covered himself in glory.
Indeed, Pope has made a few mistakes for Newcastle this season, something he didn’t really do during his first year with the club.
Usually a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England squads too, the 31-year-old looks to be frozen out of the international picture.
Pope has been overlooked of late and pundit Gary Neville believes he’s lost his battle with Jordan Pickford to be considered England’s No.1
Nick Pope: Gary Neville now says Newcastle has lost his England battle
Indeed, speaking on the Stick To Football show on YouTube, Neville said the moment for Pope or Aaron Ramsdale to overtake Pickford has now passed.
“This idea that Ramsdale and Pope would come in and take him over. No, forget that, I know Pope is out injured for a bit but that’s gone now,” he said.
Nick Pope injury: Major blow to Newcastle
While the former Burnley stopper is not without his mistakes, his long-term injury is a major blow to Newcastle.
By and large, Pope is capable of keeping Newcastle in games with some of his fantastic stops and although Martin Dubravka has previously impressed during the Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce years, it’s difficult to suggest he’s quite as good as Pope at his very best.
With huge games against AC Milan, Chelsea and Sunderland to come in various cup competitions, not being able to call on him is a worry.
Out of the picture with England, its doubtful he will be able to impress Southgate enough to make a late run for Euro 2024 too, given his injury and how little he’s been involved for the Three Lions of late.
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