The Newcastle games that Nick Pope is expected to miss after confirmed news
Nick Pope’s absence from the Newcastle team has been explained as he faces a number of weeks out of action with a groin injury.
Newcastle fans have been critical of Nick Pope’s performances so far in this campaign, and the uncertainty around him as a starter has only increased after his performance in Marseille last week.
The England international kept the hosts out in the first period, but undid his side’s hard work mere seconds after half-time as he rushed out of his goal to try to close Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down.
Alan Shearer ripped into Pope for his poor showing as they lost the Champions League clash 2-1, and he was absent from Eddie Howe‘s squad over the weekend as the Magpies beat Everton 4-1.
The reason for his no-show was put down to injury concerns rather than being dropped by the Newcastle boss, and the extent of his problem has now been revealed.
Pope faces three weeks out of Newcastle action with a groin injury
Howe confirmed after the Everton clash on Saturday (29 November) that Pope had injured his groin in training before the game, and he was set to have a scan on the area this week.
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has now revealed, via X, that the England stopper is set to be unavailable for the next three weeks of action due to his groin problem.
Aaron Ramsdale stepped up to make his first league start for the club on Merseyside, and he is set to carry on in between the sticks in Pope’s absence.
There were calls for Howe to drop Pope for Ramsdale from fans and pundits alike after the former’s Marseille showing, and this injury has now provided the ex-Arsenal man with a great chance to make the position his own for the rest of the season.
The Newcastle games that Pope is set to miss with key Premier League and Champions League ties ahead
Pope has played in all of the Magpies’ Champions League outings so far this term as well as being first-choice for league games, but that will all change for the next few weeks.
Following this latest update, Football Insider have looked at the six games that the 33-year-old is set to miss out on in a packed December.
- Tuesday, 2 December – Tottenham (H), Premier League
- Saturday, 6 December – Burnley (H), Premier League
- Wednesday, 10 December – Bayer Leverkusen (a), Champions League
- Sunday, 14 December – Sunderland (a), Premier League
- Wednesday, 17 December – Fulham (H), Premier League
- Saturday, 20 December – Chelsea (H), Premier League