Newcastle United star ruled out of next two games after new injury concern made public

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope has been forced to withdraw from England duty because of an injury.

Pope and Magpies teammate Kieran Trippier were called up to Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad last week. Trippier will arrive at St George’s Park today, but Pope will remain at Newcastle for treatment.

The summer signing from Burnley featured in United’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Friday night - where Alexander Isak scored a 93rd minute - despite barely training in the week leading up to the game.

Eddie Howe is hopeful the 30-year-old will be fine for the Premier League clash against Manchester United after the international break as he sits out of England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

Called up in Pope’s place is former Newcastle and current Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Fraser Forster. The 35-year-old has played regularly in recent weeks with first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris injured.

Forster, born in Hexham, is a boyhood Newcastle fan and was on the club’s books between 2005 and 2012 before joining Celtic permanently following two successful loan spells.

The former Stockport County, Bristol Rovers and Norwich City loanee returned to the Premier League with Southampton in 2014 and spent eight years at St Mary’s before joining Spurs on a free transfer last summer.

Forster has played for England since 2016, and that is likely to remain the same, despite his call-up with Jordan Pickford (Everton) and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) ahead in the pecking order.

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