“Unlucky Snub: Newcastle Star Backed to Be in England Squad Over Three Rivals”
Newcastle United’s Influence on the England Squad Continues to Grow.
While Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson are no longer part of the England setup, a new generation of Newcastle United stars is consistently in contention for selection.
Anthony Gordon made his breakthrough last year, while Tino Livramento earned his first cap earlier this season after developing under Eddie Howe.
Dan Burn also made his England debut against Albania on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hall was on course to earn two caps before a season-ending ankle injury derailed his chances.
However, another Newcastle player might consider himself unfortunate to have missed out.
England manager Thomas Tuchel opted to call up four goalkeepers for this month’s squad, but Nick Pope was not among them.
Instead, Tuchel selected Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale, and James Trafford.
While Pickford remains England’s undisputed No.1, former Newcastle defender John Anderson believes Pope was unlucky to miss out.
Nick Pope Backed as Superior to Three England Goalkeepers
The Newcastle goalkeeper has not featured for England since a 3-3 draw with Germany in September 2022.
Despite some inconsistent form before and after a knee injury that sidelined him for 11 games this season, Howe has continued to back Pope as one of the Premier League’s top goalkeepers.
Even with occasional shaky performances, Anderson insists Pope is “definitely better” than Henderson, Ramsdale, and Trafford.
“Pickford is obviously England’s number one and rightly so, but I would say Nick Pope is definitely better than the rest of them,” Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle.
How Pope Compares to England’s Other Goalkeepers
Excluding Pickford, who remains first-choice, it’s interesting to compare Pope with the other goalkeepers in the England squad.
Burnley’s Trafford currently boasts the best save percentage, though it’s worth noting that he plays in the Championship rather than the Premier League.
Ironically, Newcastle is reportedly looking to sign Trafford as a potential replacement for Pope this summer.
A common criticism of Pope is his ability to play as a modern goalkeeper—one who can confidently come off his line and distribute the ball effectively.
In these areas, Pope ranks the lowest among the four selected England keepers, which may have factored into Tuchel’s decision.
For now, it appears the England door is closed to Pope, despite the strong backing from his club and supporters.
