Newcastle United have now lost Nick Pope to injury.
On the back of Callum Wilson’s injury, another senior Newcastle United player is set for a spell on the sidelines.
Nick Pope was not spotted in Newcastle’s training photos ahead of Leicester City, amid speculation he was an injury doubt to face the Foxes.
It has now been reported that the England international is going to be out of action for a month, as Newcastle United lose their first choice goalkeeper for the entire festive period.
According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Nick Pope will be absent for a month after damaging his knee ligaments during last weekend’s defeat to Brentford.
Lloyd Kelly of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United and Nick Pope, goalkeeper of Newcastle United looks dejected with Lukas...
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Who will replace Nick Pope during injury layoff
In Pope’s absence, Eddie Howe will either turn to Martin Dubravka or Odysseas Vlachodimos.
The former looks the most likely to come into the side, just like he did last season when Pope was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
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Despite costing £20million from Nottingham Forest, Vlachodimos is probably not going to get the chance to be a starter for the Magpies.
In truth, he was only brought to St James’ Park for PSR reasons, as Newcastle sold Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35million as they scrambled to comply with the Premier League’s financial rules.
Eddie Howe wanted more goalkeeper competition at Newcastle United
With Pope injured again and Newcastle likely turning to Dubravka again, it highlights one of Eddie Howe’s summer demands that was ignored during the previous transfer window.
Geordie Boot Boys were told that Howe wanted to sign a new goalkeeper to compete with Nick Pope.
That is why Newcastle targeted the likes of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Aaron Ramsdale. However, the Magpies altered their approach when they missed out on Europe.
Newcastle turned their attention towards James Trafford, with the Burnley stopper seen as someone who could be Pope’s understudy, before eventually becoming the number one in the future.
Newcastle expected to sign Trafford, only for the deal to be put on hold when the club were desperately trying to comply with PSR.
With Vlachodimos arriving, Newcastle could not justify signing Trafford unless another goalkeeper left the club. Even on transfer deadline day, Newcastle wanted Trafford on loan, but a deal did not come to fruition.
Instead, Newcastle were left with an injury-prone Nick Pope, an ageing and out of form Martin Dubravka and a goalkeeper they never really wanted in the first place in Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Add that trio to Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy and the Magpies have got five senior goalkeepers. However, the four reserves are not at a high enough level to push Pope, as Newcastle get set to play without their first choice stopper for the next few weeks.
It is another example of PSR letting Newcastle United down.
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