Newcastle United’s biggest injury blow to date after key man ruled out for five months
Pope was as big a reason as Barnes as to how Newcastle United left Molineux with three points on Sunday evening. Two moments of brilliance from Fabian Schar and Barnes flipped the game on its head in the final 15 minutes but without their goalkeeper, such result, quite simply, wouldn’t have happened.
The 32-year-old’s save in stoppage time to keep out Matheus Cunha’s volley is the obvious standout but it is worth noting his saves at 1-0 where he dived low to meet Jorgen Strand Larsen’s header before a strong arm stopped another Cunha effort creeping in at the near post.
“I’m really pleased for Nick because whenever a player goes away on international duty, and I’ve said this before, there is always a different dynamic,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe after the game. “The players we have to keep here we can really focus on what they’re doing and we’re in tune with their performances.
“Players go away and they miss our contact time and there is always that trust of how they’re going to come back but Nick’s come back… you can see the impact he has on the team and today he makes two or three great saves that ultimately help us win the game. He’s a top class goalkeeper and I’m delighted for him.”
It is for that reason why Newcastle arguably missed Pope the most out of anyone last season, which is a big endorsement in itself when you consider the likes of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Sven Botman missed the majority of the campaign.
When Pope dislocated his shoulder towards the end of the 1-0 win over Manchester United on December 2, Howe’s men sat fifth in the Premier League table, two points off the top four. Come the end the season, United finished in 7th, eight points below 4th placed Aston Villa.
