Nick Pope’s place in the Newcastle United starting XI is under threat, and former Toon goalkeeper Rob Elliot believes it is clear what Eddie Howe must do.
The 33-year-old is on the back of two hugely disappointing Premier League games, having made errors in Newcastle United’s away defeats to West Ham and Brentford.
He was even substituted in the latter, having suffered a concussion at the Gtech Community Stadium. That allowed Aaron Ramsdale to make his first Premier League appearance for the Magpies, having been limited to Carabao Cup action.
Given his ability with his feet and the errors that Nick Pope has made, there is a clamour for Ramsdale to be given a run in the starting XI.
However, Rob Elliot has explained why Eddie Howe should stick with his number one.
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Rob Elliot backs ‘outrageously good’ Nick Pope
Elliot, who spent nine years at St James’ Park, has been speaking about the Magpies’ goalkeeper situation on BBC Newcastle.
The 39-year-old has praised Ramsdale for putting Pope under pressure, but believes the latter should retain his place in the Newcastle United starting XI for the time being.
“First and foremost they’re two top goalkeepers,” he said.
“Pope has been exceptional for us since he’s come in. Probably had a couple of blips the last couple of games. But he’s kept the second most number of clean sheets in the league this season. He’s been outrageously good in the Champions League.
“Sometimes with goalkeepers, the errors that come out are really obvious and they can really heighten it. When you’ve got someone like Aaron who’s putting pressure, playing fantastically well in the Carabao Cup, and he does add a different dimension. Pope will know that. He [Ramsdale] is good with his feet, he can recycle the ball and it gives us a different dimension.
“However, for me in terms of where the team is at, at the moment, I’d want my best goalkeeper in goal. When I mean that, I don’t mean that Aaron is better than Pope or Pope is better than Aaron. I mean that Nick Pope is in form, he’s played consistently. He deals with the high ball so well, despite the Brentford and West Ham ones. He reads the game and makes massive saves.
“At the moment, we still need goalkeepers that make massive saves at the right time, until we get consistency back as a team.”
Elliot added: “At this moment in time, you stick with Nick Pope. I think he’s earned that right.”
Nick Pope is having an excellent season despite Newcastle United errors
Pope was not good enough against West Ham or Brentford. However, that was true of pretty much every member of the Newcastle United squad. Malick Thiaw is probably the only player who can hold his head high coming out of those two games.
The reality of the situation is that Pope is actually having a very good season. He has bailed Newcastle United out on multiple occasions, and will likely continue to do so if he is chosen to start by Howe.
His start to the season is summed up by the fact that Thomas Tuchel had recalled him to the England squad before his concussion forced him to withdraw. That was a testament to his performances for the Magpies.
While he cannot play out from the back, his ability to read the game and sweep up danger and deal with high balls into the box should take precedence. Howe will recognise that, with the Newcastle United manager not expected to change his goalkeeper any time soon.
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