Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon are claiming the headlines, but Nick Pope might just be Newcastle United’s success story of the season so far after a transfer window in which he nearly lost his place.
Newcastle United defeated Benfica 3-0 in a celebratory Champions League night at St. James’ Park on Tuesday, with Eddie Howe’s side delivering on the need for a big win and strong performance.
Anthony Gordon scored the opener and dazzled with his quick feet, even earning direct adulation from Jose Mourinho at full-time.
Nick Woltemade wowed with his elegance on the ball and Harvey Barnes grabbed two goals in a scorching cameo off the bench.
Yet, the biggest story of the game was Nick Pope. The goalkeeper not only made some strong saves but picked up his second assist of the season by throwing the ball 65 yards to send Barnes through on goal.
Pope now has more assists than Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bukayo Saka this season, among many others, and the match felt like a triumphant moment for a player whose place in the side looked all but over in the summer as Newcastle chased James Trafford, in what would prove to be one of several fiascos.
Nick Pope raises his fist in celebration after setting up a goal for Newcastle.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
How James Trafford became Newcastle United’s biggest transfer embarrassment
Without a sporting director after Paul Mitchell’s departure, what was supposed to be a transfer window of Newcastle truly becoming one of the elites transpired to be a very difficult slog.
Howe could only watch on as several of his top targets went elsewhere, and Isak’s conduct to force through his Liverpool transfer turned the mood at the club sour.
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Though losing out on the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro and Hugo Ekitike to more-established Premier League giants can’t really be helped at times, the Trafford fiasco could have been easily avoided.
Newcastle knew they wanted Trafford for months and could have had their man, yet haggled on Burnley’s asking price. It was a high one, but the goalkeeper had just come off the back of a record-smashing Championship season.
By the time Newcastle finally relented to Burnley’s demands, Manchester City were in the market for a goalkeeper and activated a clause that allowed them to match any offer the Clarets received.
The Blues matched the £27m bid and Trafford chose to return to City, leaving Newcastle without a new goalkeeper and the transfer window looking like an absolute disaster.
Newcastle did manage to turn things around by recruiting Woltemade, Aaron Ramsdale, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa – though the latter is yet to make his debut – but not improving between the sticks appeared to be a missed opportunity to take a big step forward.
As it turns out, Pope has roared back to the best form of his career and is ensuring Newcastle have not regretted missing out on Trafford at all.
Nick Pope is in the form of his life at Newcastle United
While his two rare assists are the cherry, Pope’s habit of stopping goals rather than creating them is the cake.
Pope has already kept seven clean sheets this season and is outperforming his xG, meaning he has saved more goals than what would typically have been scored.
He’s making big saves in big moments and playing his part in ensuring Newcastle have one of the strongest defences in the Premier League.
The 33-year-old is playing with a point to prove, showing whoever doubted his credentials at the club that he is still good enough to be No.1.
Trafford, meanwhile, is having to sit twiddling his thumbs on the City bench as the Blues signed Gianluigi Donnarumma shortly after bringing him in.
It’s a cruel twist of fate for Trafford, who might be the one left regretting his transfer decision in the summer rather than Newcastle after all.