Howe: Time for Nick to make himself Southgate’s top pick
NICK POPE has been challenged by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to reach for the sky and establish himself as England’s No.1.
The former Burnley keeper has made an outstanding start to his Toon career following his £10million move from Burnley.
Pope (right) is one of only three keepers in all four divisions not to have conceded a goal this season. The others are Ederson, who will be on duty for Manchester City at St James’ Park this afternoon, and Freddy Woodman of Preston, the keeper Newcastle sold to make way for Pope.
The 30-year-old was labelled world class by Adam Lallana after his exploits at Brighton last week, while he has become a social media sensation after bizarrely topping a Burger King poll to discover favourite toppings!
But Howe believes life can get even better for Pope, claiming he should be targeting a place in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI at the World Cup in Qatar.
Understudy
Four years ago, Pope was Southgate’s third-choice keeper in Russia and he finds himself in a similar place in the pecking order now with Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale ahead of him.
His club boss, however, feels he is capable of being much more than a perennial understudy and hopes Pope himself has his sights on the No.1 spot for the Three Lions.
“I am sure he does and if he didn’t, I’d say he needs to review his ambitions,” said Howe.
“When you’re in his position and you are close, just a couple of positions away, I think you have to reach and strain to try and make that jump.
“Certainly after the start he has made for us, he has done himself no harm.
“Nick has been brilliant from day one, earned his place in the team and had two really good performances so far.
“I always prefer to judge signings further down the line, but certainly at the moment he’s looking good.”
Howe has been deservedly lauded for the job he has done since arriving on Tyneside nine months ago, boasting a points-per-game record this
calendar year only bettered by City and Liverpool. But there is one statistic he is not so keen on hearing. No current manager has a worse record against any club than Howe’s against City.
Twelve times he has come up against them as a manager and 12 times he has lost, the last 10 when Pep Guardiola has been in charge.
But ask Howe if he would take a draw today and his answer is unequivocal. “I just cannot go into a game preparing not to win,” he said. “I never have that mindset of settling for a draw before the game.
“I’m just not made that way. That doesn’t mean that during a game, I wouldn’t take a draw – if you’re 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go, then of course you would.
“When you’re on the sidelines, you can feel the momentum of a game and it’s part of my job to try and be in tune with what the team needs.
“It might be substitutions or tinkering with the system but I am always trying to affect the game positively.”
Full-back Matt Targett, who missed the goalless draw at Brighton, will have a late fitness test but Howe is likely to name an unchanged side.