Fresh Newcastle United injury claim as key man ruled out for four months amid training ground return

Eddie Howe says Newcastle United will remain without Nick Pope until April, quashing hopes of him making a return ahead of schedule this month.

Pope has been out of action since the beginning of December after requiring surgery on the shoulder he dislocated during the Magpies' 1-0 win at home to Manchester United.

There were suggestions Pope could return mid to late March but Howe has told NewcastleWorld: "It’s more likely to be next month, I don’t think we’ll see him this month.

"He’s working his way back well from his injury but we have to be careful with him. It’s important for a goalkeeper to be 100% fit, especially with shoulder issues. So yeah, I think next month.”

The England goalkeeper is back in light training at the club's Benton training centre but is restricted to gym work and gentle hand sessions.

In the meantime, Martin Dubravka will continue to deputise and while the Slovakian has performed well recently - namely the FA Cup penalty shootout win at Blackburn Rovers - Pope's absence has potentially been season-defining.

With Pope in between the sticks, United have conceded 19 goals in 20 games compared to 35 goals shipped in the same number of matches.

The majority of those goals have came with Dubravka in net, excluding the recent 4-1 defeat at Arsenal when Loris Karius made only his second appearance in 12 months.

Howe's men have kept just four clean sheets since losing Pope, two of which have come against Fulham. Their 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday was their first Premier League clean sheet since December 16.