Former Newcastle United keeper hails Magpies star as one of the best in the world

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot has thrown his support behind Nick Pope after he showed why he has established himself as Eddie Howe’s number one.

The England stopper bounced back from a below-par performance in the defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion by keeping three consecutive clean sheets as the Magpies claimed maximum points from Brentford and Sheffield United and secure a hard-earned draw in their Champions League opener at AC Milan.

The latter of that trio of games saw Pope come to the fore as the Magpies number one made several impressive saves to ensure he kept a clean sheet on his first ever appearance in European football’s elite club competition.

After Pope made it five consecutive clean sheets with shut-outs in the Carabao Cup win over Manchester City and Saturday’s victory against Burnley, former United stopper Elliot, who made 68 appearances during a nine-year stay at St James Park, believes the criticism he received was unfair and described the Magpies star as one of the best shot-stoppers in world football.

He told NewcastleWorld: “He had a bit of criticism in the first part of the season, unfairly I think, but his standards have been so high.

“Being a goalkeeper in the Premier League, one deflection or adjustment can lead to what is perceived as a poor game. I’m sure Nick will know himself what he can or could do better but ultimately, he’s been unbelievable since he came in and I think he has solidified the decision to bring him in.

“He has shown his strengths in abundance in both the Premier League and now Champions League. You need a keeper to make saves and there’s no better keeper, probably in the world, than shot-stopping than Nick Pope. There are going to be games when he will be needed to do what he did in Milan and seeing Nick Pope play well will be a massive advantage to Newcastle.”

Pope is showing signs of returning to the form that saw him play an integral role in helping Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and reach their first major cup final in 24 years during his first season on Tyneside.

Although Sunday’s big win at Sheffield United saw him largely untested, the former Burnley keeper was thrust into the action during the draw in the San Siro and last weekend’s narrow home win against Brentford. Elliot believes Pope’s strong ‘mentality’ has come to the fore as he continues to move on from what some believe was a challenging start to his second season at St James Park.

He said: “Popey’s biggest strength is when his team is under pressure because he will come and claim crosses, he’ll make big decisions and he will make big saves.

“To simplify it, he’s just the best keeper I’ve seen in terms of putting his body in the way of the ball. It doesn’t always look pretty, but it’s so effective. Nothing in his mentality I’ve seen shows anything other than growth and accepting a challenge. Playing at this level, there are going to be games when you’re under the cosh and Popey, to do it in the San Siro with that atmosphere for example, tells you everything about him as a goalkeeper and as a person.”

As his former club compete in the Champions League for the first time, Elliot’s current club will play a role in helping the Magpies as their Under-19s compete in the youth version of the same competition.

The former Magpies stopper is currently technical director at National League club Gateshead and is also registered as a player for a Heed side managed by former United centre-back Mike Williamson. The International Stadium will host two of the Magpies Under-19s UEFA Youth League group stage games, starting with next Wednesday’s meeting with their counterparts from Paris Saint-Germain.

Gateshead will also host the ‘home’ clash with Borussia Dortmund next month and Elliot is hopeful the decision to play such eye-catching games on the south bank of the Tyne will see a blossoming relationship between the two clubs.

“It’s brilliant for us because we want to build that relationship with Newcastle,” he explained.

“You’re going to have some of the best young players in Europe coming to the International Stadium and playing here. We want to be part of that and they’ll be good days for us. I know the staff and the players are looking forward to watching in the afternoon after training.

“It solidifies that relationship between the two clubs and that can only be healthy for both clubs. There’s more we can do to benefit each other, we had the pre-season game and that was a big success.”

That relationship could extend to the Magpies loaning players to their National League neighbours over the coming years - and Elliot has revealed United’s participation in the Youth League has already ‘hindered’ opportunities for United youngsters to make a temporary loan switch to the Heed.

He said: “The fact the Under-19s are in the Youth League has probably hindered our chances of getting a couple of loan players we probably liked because Newcastle need a bigger squad, which is great because it means we can watch them in these games.

“I’d be shocked if we don’t see some young lads coming here, either permanently because they need to start their journey again, or on loan because they need to have some support and in taking that next step in the development.

“The way we play, it heightens and helps their cause for getting into the first-team environment but, fingers crossed, there will be a nice bond and a good relationship between the two clubs going forward.”