Goalkeeper Nick Pope has been left out of the Newcastle United squad entirely after an error in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Marseille. The mistake proved costly, leading to speculation about his immediate future in the starting lineup.
Pope’s absence means a reshuffle for Newcastle, with another keeper stepping into the starting eleven. The decision follows a challenging run of performances for Pope, and the coaching staff appear to have opted for a short-term change to regain defensive confidence.
"It’s a tactical decision," a club source explained, emphasizing that the move was based on form rather than fitness concerns.
Newcastle face Everton looking to rebound from their midweek defeat. With the fixture list intensifying, rotation within the squad is expected as manager Eddie Howe seeks to stabilize results and maintain consistency in goalkeeping performances.
Author’s summary: Nick Pope was dropped from Newcastle’s squad against Everton after his error versus Marseille, with the club citing tactical reasons for the change.