talkSPORT pundit now says £10m Newcastle player has a huge flaw in his game

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Darren Bent has been having his say on where Newcastle United could potentially need to improve to challenge for titles.

The former Sunderland striker has offered up what could be a controversial opinion by saying that Eddie Howe should be looking to upgrade his goalkeeper.

Nick Pope is the current number one at Newcastle after his £10million move from Burnley last summer. Pope was part of the Premier League‘s joint-best defence last season and went on a run of 10 consecutive clean-sheets.

Bent has criticised Pope’s ability with the ball at his feet

However, Pope has come in for criticism for his distribution and his ability with the ball at his feet. He also has a tendency to come running out of his box and following the red card against Liverpool last season, that puts Geordie hearts in mouths.

The game against Brighton before the international break saw Newcastle paying for one of these errors by Pope whose poor clearance outside the area led to Brighton’s opening goal.

Now Darren Bent has said on talkSPORT that that flaw in his game could be an issue for Howe saying (via The Chronicle): “If you want to play this modern way of football then you have to play with your feet from the back, then Nick Pope can’t do that.

“Simple as that. I know people say ‘he’s OK with his feet’ but these managers now want players that are exceptional.

“You look at Manchester United now for instance – [Andre] Onana is so comfortable on the ball. Look how he holds on to it – that’s how they want their goalkeepers to play. Nick Pope – shot-stopper, coming for crosses and all that – is brilliant, one of the best in the league at doing that.

There’s nothing to suggest Pope can’t improve on his footwork

“But that last little bit which is vital now, playing out from the back . . . unless Eddie Howe doesn’t want to play that way, in which case you’ve got no issues. If you want to play from the back then I don’t think he’s comfortable enough to do that.”

As Bent says, in terms of shot stopping there’s not many in the game better than Pope, but if Eddie Howe wants to build from the back then having a ‘keeper who is comfortable with the ball at their feet is essential.

It’s not something that can’t be trained, so Pope could still work on that part of his game. He’s only 31 so as a goalkeeper he’s still got plenty of years left in him and it’s not too late to teach him something new.