Jamie Carragher has suggested that no one but Newcastle United fans consider Nick Pope to be ‘world-class’ but the goalkeeper is an essential part of Eddie Howe’s side.
The 31-year-old currently shares the lead in the Golden Glove race with Manchester United stopper Andre Onana through 13 games. Both players have shut five teams out through the opening months of the term. Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone is the only other player on five.
Onana, Johnstone and Pope have each started in all 13 of their teams’ matches this term so far, as well. Yet Pope needed until Newcastle’s fifth game of the campaign to register his first clean sheet. He has since conceded in just four matches ahead of facing Manchester United.
Nick Pope has been one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers
Pope has kept his clean sheets in Newcastle’s wins over Brentford, Sheffield United, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Arsenal. The Toon also only conceded once at Manchester City and twice against Liverpool. Brighton & Hove Albion have scored the most past Pope with three goals.
It is also the second successive season in which Pope has been among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. The 10-cap England international finished his first term at Newcastle second to David de Gea in the Golden Glove race. He registered 14 shut-outs in 37 games.
Jamie Carragher says no one but Newcastle thinks Nick Pope is ‘world-class’
Newcastle paid Burnley £12m to sign Pope in June 2022 following the Clarets’ relegation. He instantly displaced Martin Dubravka as the Magpies No1, as well. And Carragher feels Howe will rate the goalkeeper’s move among his best transfers since taking over at St James’ Park.
But Carragher doubts rival fans rate Pope all that highly despite often impressing through his shot-stopping excellence. The Liverpool hero particularly likes Pope’s consistency, which is in stark contrast to Onana, who will be in the other net for Manchester United on Saturday.
“Newcastle are appropriate opponents this weekend having benefited enormously from the consistency of Nick Pope,” Carragher wrote in The Telegraph.
“Pope may not be considered world-class by those beyond St James’ Park. But you can be sure Eddie Howe rates him as one of his most astute purchases.
“He is a big part of why Newcastle have gone from the bottom half of the Premier League into the Champions League. There was a marked contrast between Pope and Onana in midweek. The best keepers generate confidence while the most susceptible create tension.”
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