Newcastle United's biggest injury blow to date after key man ruled out for five months

Pope was as big a reason as Barnes as to how Newcastle United left Molineux with three points on Sunday evening. Two moments of brilliance from Fabian Schar and Barnes flipped the game on its head in the final 15 minutes but without their goalkeeper, such result, quite simply, wouldn’t have happened.

The 32-year-old’s save in stoppage time to keep out Matheus Cunha’s volley is the obvious standout but it is worth noting his saves at 1-0 where he dived low to meet Jorgen Strand Larsen’s header before a strong arm stopped another Cunha effort creeping in at the near post.

“I’m really pleased for Nick because whenever a player goes away on international duty, and I’ve said this before, there is always a different dynamic,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe after the game. “The players we have to keep here we can really focus on what they’re doing and we’re in tune with their performances.

“Players go away and they miss our contact time and there is always that trust of how they’re going to come back but Nick’s come back… you can see the impact he has on the team and today he makes two or three great saves that ultimately help us win the game. He’s a top class goalkeeper and I’m delighted for him.”

Geordie Journos on ShotsTV! Reaction to Wolves win & Eddie Howe selection calls

Top class indeed, but Pope probably doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because he makes it look so easy. No disrespect to Martin Dubravka or any the club’s goalkeepers but they don’t make the saves Pope does. To be honest, not many on the planet do either.

It is for that reason why Newcastle arguably missed Pope the most out of anyone last season, which is a big endorsement in itself when you consider the likes of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Sven Botman missed the majority of the campaign.

When Pope dislocated his shoulder towards the end of the 1-0 win over Manchester United on December 2, Howe’s men sat fifth in the Premier League table, two points off the top four. Come the end the season, United finished in 7th, eight points below 4th placed Aston Villa.

With Pope in net, Newcastle conceded 14 goals in the same number of games but the average increased from one a game to two with Dubravka, and Loris Karius for one match, shipping 46 in 23. It was a defensive record unrecognisable to the campaign before when Champions League football was achieved.

Of course, it’d be harsh to say that all falls on the goalkeeper but it’s no coincidence that the Magpies look much sturdier with Pope in between the sticks. He is a man that inspires confidence and therefore brings out the best in those around him. It makes you wonder where United would have finished last term had he stayed fit.

But there’s no time for dwelling and Pope, along with his teammates, has helped the club makes its best start to a Premier League season since 1995-96 under Kevin Keegan, albeit the overall team performance needs improving.

During a week when Howe was forced to defend to his recruitment amid the ‘fit for purpose’ questions raised by sporting director Paul Mitchell, not even the latter could critique Pope’s arrival. For a reported £12m, it represents an absolute bargain.

Maybe social media isn’t the best reflection, but there were people out who were quite happy to trade Pope in for a certain Georgian based on a couple of highlights reels. The concern comes if Pope was to miss a significant period again but when available, there really aren’t many better.

A ball-playing goalkeeper you say? Never mind that. You need someone who can keep the ball out of the net and Pope does a good job of doing that.