£10m Newcastle United star earns spot in BBC pundit’s Team of the Week after Brighton display

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope has earned a place in Garth Crooks’ Team of the Week.

The summer recruit put in an impressive performance to help his side pick up a 0-0 draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Pope, 30, made the move to St James’ Park earlier in this transfer window from Burnley and has become an instant hit with Eddie Howe’s side.

Special mention

Crooks has been full of praise for the England international and has said:

“Solly March should have had two goals and would have done had it not been for Pope. Adam Lallana then had a header saved when Pope had no right to be anywhere near it, while a deflection off Dan Burn seemed to wrong-foot the Newcastle goalkeeper, but Pope and Fabian Schar still managed to keep Brighton out.

“This was a good result for Newcastle who, like Brighton, are making steady progress under a very good manager in Eddie Howe.”

Brighton had seven shots on target on Saturday but the in-form Pope was able to stop Graham Potter’s side from scoring.

He has now kept two clean sheets in two for his new side as they prepare to face champions Manchester City this weekend.

Pope spent the past five years at Burnley and made 155 times for the Lancashire outfit, having previously played for Bury Town and Charlton Athletic.

He hasn’t been the only summer arrival at Newcastle, with the Toon Army also signing left-back Matt Targett on a permanent deal from Aston Villa and centre-back Sven Botman from Lille.

Who else was in the Team of the Week?

In defence, Crooks named Chelsea new boy Kalidou Koulibaly after his home debut goal against Tottenham Hotspur, while there was also space for Tyrone Mings and Pontus Jansson.

Reece James, Kevin De Bruyne, Granit Xhaka and Mathias Jensen make up the midfield, with Rodrigo, Gabriel Jesus and Luis Diaz in attack.