Major positive Newcastle United injury news as bookmakers slash odds on England star returning

Nick Pope’s odds of making England’s Euro 2024 squad this summer have been slashed - hinting at possible positive injury news for Newcastle United.

Gareth Southgate will be pondering over who to name in his Three Lions squad ahead of a tournament many believe he should win. Although not confirmed, UEFA are set to allow 26-man squads, keeping the temporary measure from the previous Euros.

Three of those will be goalkeepers and Pope, providing he returns from injury, will be hoping to make the plane. The 32-year-old has not featured for England since September 2022 and opened up about his international ambitions earlier this season.

"For me, it’s just motivation to do better,” the goalkeeper, whose international snub in September, October and November sparked rumours of retirement, told TNT Sports. “I don’t look anywhere else other than myself in the mirror.

"I want to be back in the England squad, I want to be going to a major tournament. I’m not in the squad, but that’s down to myself. That’s the way I look at it."

His first priority will be making a comeback for Newcastle, where he has not played since suffering a dislocated shoulder in December. Pope’s injury had huge implications on Newcastle’s season, with Eddie Howe’s men conceding just 14 goals in as many Premier League games until that point.

Bookmakers price the Toon shot-stopper as short as 4/9 to make the squad. His competition includes Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and James Trafford, with Sam Johnstone ruled out through injury.