Nick Pope has linked up with the England squad for the Nations League matches against Italy and Germany. The 30-year-old stands a very good chance of adding to his 8 caps with number one Jordan Pickford not involved with a thigh injury.
Both Pope and Pickford have been sensational for their respective clubs to start this campaign. Pope is up against Nottingham Forest’s on loan keeper Dean Henderson and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale to be in the net for Friday’s match at the San Siro against Italy.
Pope last played for England in March keeping a clean sheet in a friendly against the Ivory Coast. His last matches of significance for his country was the previous March when he started three World Cup Qualifiers, all three of which were wins.
He recently touched on his involvement with England as well as the successful start to his Newcastle career. Here is some of what Nick said as published in The Shields Gazette:
“I think international football’s something that’s earned by how you play for your club.
“Newcastle now will hopefully be seen, and be grown to be seen, as a club where internationals will regularly come from.
“Moving here, and playing in this team, is something that will help me get England caps. I’m never going to be a goalkeeper that gets 50, 60 caps.
“I’m 30. I’m not being unrealistic, but I feel there’s more for me, and I want to see how many I get. It’s another ambition.
“I was lucky enough to be part of the last one. I was unlucky or unfortunate to miss out on the Euros because of my knee surgery, so that fire’s still burning for myself.
“Being part of a major tournament for England is the biggest stage you can possibly get to.
“In a footballer’s career, you don’t see too many. If you get to three World Cups, you’ve done unbelievably well. It’s special to have that opportunity, and it’ll be a target.”
Newcastle haven’t had many England internationals in the recent past. Now there are two in the ranks in Pope and right-back Kieran Trippier. They are the first to get England caps as Magpies since Andros Townsend in 2016.
While it’s close, if Gareth Southgate goes on recent form, Pope should be in between the goalposts in Milan on Friday. He is joint top with Brentford’s David Raya with 30 saves. His 3 clean sheets are joint-second behind Man City’s Ederson, though Ramsdale has 3 as well.
Pope was nominated for August’s Premier League Player of the Month while winning the month’s best save award. He could edge out Ramsdale and Henderson, though the competition is stiff.
47 comments so far
coming home
Sep 20, 2022 at 7:05 PM
Comment #41Nijmegan
I totally get why you changed your name mate
I tried changing mine but was unsuccessful
Carltoon totally goosed me but she was right
Anyway Raj/nij I understand and you shouldn’t need to go undercover it’s just a toon blog and hopefully we are all friends
coming home
Sep 20, 2022 at 7:11 PM
Comment #42I think a few have already said about the Var
ZG said it best it’s how you interpret it and I think TDS is interpreting from an outside view but it’s OK we all or almost all are biest
investinyouthtoon
Sep 20, 2022 at 7:13 PM
Comment #43Nijmegen-toon, Will be so wonderful in a few/several years time when we become an established European side. To know we can go and compete for some of Europe’s brightest stars, rather than having absolutely no chance in recent times.
coming home
Sep 20, 2022 at 7:24 PM
Comment #44End of the day EH has giving us more hope than we could of ever imagined even Rafa who I loved couldn’t give us what EH has done in such a short space of time
He could 100% be the next Alex Furguson just give him time
Like 2 years without prejudjment and he will be the next massive thing
Mund
Sep 20, 2022 at 7:34 PM
Comment #45TheOther14
@Other14The
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6h
Team Touches in the Opposition Penalty Area from TheOther14 teams in #PL week 8.
@Other14The
@NUFC
had the most at the weekend.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FdGPGq5XEAIaKde?format=jpg&name=medium
Mund
Sep 20, 2022 at 8:12 PM
Comment #46I’d have him
Transfer News Live
@DeadlineDayLive
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3h
Jack Grealish has told those around him that he doesn’t expect to stay at Manchester City beyond next summer and has already asked his agent to search for potential new clubs.
(Source: Football Insider)
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 8:54 PM
Comment #47Nij
I get that approach, to a point.
But it seems a holding, retro move. As ut seems Jo, Bruno rotate round the mid covering for each other. Hey, maybe shelvey is being primed for a new role, as we type.
Hope so, ‘cos he don’t fit, as it stands, imv.