'It's a shame' - Newcastle United told 'outstanding' player will explore January exit
Nick Pope has dropped to third choice goalkeeper at Newcastle United.
Former Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley believes Nick Pope could look to leave Newcastle United in January rather than see out the final six months of his contract.
Pope ended last season as the Magpies’ first-choice goalkeeper, but he has since dropped to third choice following the summer arrivals of 24-year-old Lukas Hornicek and 20-year-old Ewan Jaouen.
The 34-year-old, who joined from Burnley in 2022, helped United win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League twice. However, a loss of form in recent seasons ultimately led to him being made available for transfer this summer.
Pope came close to joining Ipswich Town, only for the move to break down following Kieran McKenna’s departure as manager. Newcastle were subsequently unable to find another suitable suitor before the transfer window closed.
The Soham-born goalkeeper is unlikely to feature unless Hornicek and Jaouen both suffer injuries, leaving him out in the cold. He can leave the club for free when his contract expires next summer, but Bardsley, who was his teammate at Burnley, believes he could bring that departure forward by six months.
“It’s a shame to see Nick Pope on the bench,” Bardsley told Lyllo Casino. “He's an outstanding goalkeeper and had a brilliant couple of seasons at Newcastle, but unfortunately picked up another injury that kept him out for a period of time and then struggled to get back in.
“Knowing Popey the way I do from when we played together, he'll be eager to get out and play some games. I think he'll assess his situation in January if he's not getting the game time that he wants.
“I'd imagine he'd look for something else to try and get the minutes that he wants and is used to. Ever since we played at Burnley together, he's probably been playing thirty or forty games a season, so when he's not doing that, I'd imagine he's not too happy.”
Pope has been named on the Magpies’ bench for the last four matches following an injury to Jaouen, however the Frenchman is expected to be available for the trip to Coventry City after the international break.
Had Pope departed, the plan was for 19-year-old Aidan Harris to step up as the club’s third choice goalkeeper.