Nick Pope has been speaking to The Athletic this week about his summer move to St James’ Park and some of the key factors that convinced him to make the switch.
Interestingly, he insists that Eddie Howe hasn’t given him any assurances over the No 1 spot – despite many believing he will automatically jump above of Martin Dubravka in the pecking order.
The 6ft 6′ stopper admits this feels like the “perfect” move to help him “push to the next level” at a key stage of his career – especially with the World Cup just a few years away – however, it seems his place in Howe’s starting 11 is anything but a forgone conclusion at present, with the manager determined to have two quality players fighting for each position.
Pope also revealed how Kieran Trippier “sold the move” to St James’ Park when the pair linked up on England duty in June, saying the right-back spoke so highly of the club – making his decision “much easier” after becoming aware of our interest at the time.
Here’s what the former Burnley stopper has had to say on all of the above, starting with his conversations with Howe – who tried to sign him for Bournemouth back in 2019:
Nick Pope on his chat with Eddie Howe before he signed:
“I knew the manager had wanted me before but that doesn’t change the uncertainty. I didn’t suddenly think, ‘He’s definitely going to sign me’”
“So when he called for the first time to tell me where he saw me fitting into his plans, that was such a relief.
“He said he’d been following me for a long time, he liked many of my attributes as a goalkeeper, and he believes he can take me and the club to the next level and beyond.
“There are already top goalkeepers here and, no, there’s no specific assurances I’ll be No 1.”
“The manager wants competition in every position so we improve individually and as a team. We always push each other. The problem as a goalkeeper is there’s only one starting spot.
“But, yes, no assurances, though I feel this is the perfect place to push myself to the next level.
“If I can say after my career that I’ve been No 1 at Newcastle for a sustained period, when the club’s at a really ambitious stage, that’s something I’ll look back on with great pride.”
Nick Pope on his conversations with Kieran Trippier prior to him signing:
“I was poking him for information, without trying to give anything away about me maybe joining Newcastle.
“The transfer wasn’t widely known about and I didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag, or jinx it. But he must have been sick of me because I kept asking him questions; about the club, the city, the training, the manager, the squad, how he found the move, where he sees Newcastle going as a club.
“I already wanted to join but he made my decision much easier because he spoke so highly.
“He sold the move to me, even if he probably didn’t realise that’s what he was doing.”
