Newcastle United leaked team news as surprise recall & fresh injury blow revealed v Bournemouth
Nick Pope is back with the Newcastle United squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash with AFC Bournemouth.
Nick Pope has been handed a surprise recall to the Newcastle United squad for the first time under Matthias Jaissle.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper will be on the bench for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth with Lukas Hornicek starting in goal (12:30pm kick-off).
Pope was made available to leave Newcastle, but the club were ultimately unable to find a buyer during the summer transfer window. Today’s match marks his first game back involved for Newcastle since the signing of Hornicek and the appointment of Matthias Jaissle at head coach.
It comes after goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen suffered a training-ground ankle injury on the eve of the match.
We have launched a WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
NewcastleWorld understands the French goalkeeper, who joined Newcastle from Stade de Reims in June, is set for an MRI scan ahead of the Bournemouth match. But the injury is not thought to be serious, and it is hoped the 20-year-old will recover in time to potentially start against Millwall in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
With most major transfer windows closed, with the exception of the Saudi Pro League, Pope will likely remain on Tyneside until at least January.
“There are a couple of countries where there are still options that players can move to, but also we are really clear in our conversations,” Jaissle said on Thursday, while the Saudi, Scottish, Turkish and Portuguese windows remained open.
“I had a clear conversation with Nick already a couple of weeks ago about his position here in the club, and to make a move that's not only a club decision; it's also a decision of the player, often also from an agent. So there are many, many parts involved usually in deals, so we need to see.
“But for now he's a member of the squad, and I mentioned that already also in a press conference, that I really appreciate him and what he did for the club already, and how he's dealing with the situation right now.”
Newcastle United confirmed line-up v Bournemouth
NUFC XI v Bournemouth: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Nico, Miley; Elanga, Willock, Barnes; Wissa