Goalkeeper Nick Pope played a pivotal role as Newcastle qualified for the Champions League last season, the Toon conceding fewer goals than any other Premier League side
England keeper Nick Pope battled through the pain barrier with five finger dislocations last season.
âThe Newcastle United stopper conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League as the Toon finished fourth, but has outlined the agony he went through, before an op to cure the problem this summer. A rocket penalty kick from team-mate Matt Targett in training did the first damage, and over five months, as United qualified for the Champions League and conceded just 33 goals, it happened half a dozen times.
âPope is now fully fit and ready to face Aston Villa on Saturday, after an op in May, and said: “The finger that kept dislocating too easily, which is not ideal for a goalkeeper! I had to get it stabilised. I had a kind of anchor put in it, and then got it taped up with some cotton wool.
“There was one at the World Cup, one in September and a couple around games after that and against Bournemouth. Every time it dislocated, the joint was getting weaker. I wasn’t pushing it back in â I left that to the doctor! I didn’t really want to look at it to be honest. It would happen, then I would glance down at my hand and then look away.