SALFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Gary Neville, former English footballer, television pundit and co-owner of Salford City during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Salford City and Leeds United at Peninsula Stadium on August 29, 2023 in Salford, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
Nick Pope of Newcastle United has had an odd season.
The £10 million star hasn’t always shone brightly, but he has been amazing at times, such as in the most recent contentious draw with Paris Saint-Germain.
Pope did not really make many mistakes for Newcastle in his first season there, but he has made a few this time around.
The 31-year-old, who is typically a mainstay in Gareth Southgate’s England squads, appears to be permanently excluded from the international scene.
As of late, Pope has received little attention, and pundit Gary Neville feels that he has lost the competition to be regarded as England’s first choice over Jordan Pickford.
Nick Pope: Gary Neville now claims that Newcastle has lost their match against England.
In fact, Neville stated that Aaron Ramsdale or Pope will no longer be able to pass Pickford in his Stick To Football segment on YouTube.
“The notion that Ramsdale and Pope would enter and assume control over him. No, forget it. I know Pope was hurt for a while, but that’s over now,” he remarked.
Manchester United vs. Newcastle United in the Premier League
Nick Pope’s injury: a serious setback for Newcastle
Although the former Burnley goalie is not without his errors, Newcastle has suffered a great loss with his chronic injury.
Generally speaking, Pope’s incredible saves can keep Newcastle in games, and while Martin Dubravka has shown promise in the past under Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce, it’s hard to argue he’s nearly as good as Pope at his peak.
Not being able to call on him is concerning because there are important cup competition games against Sunderland, Chelsea, and AC Milan coming up.
With his injury, it seems unlikely that he will be able to convince Southgate to let him play for England in the final stages of Euro 2024.
With his injury and how little he has played recently for the Three Lions, it is unlikely that he will be able to convince Southgate that he is capable of making a late push for Euro 2024 while he is not playing for England.
