Nick Pope is 'forced to withdraw from the England squad due to injury'

Nick Pope ‘is forced to withdraw from the England squad due to injury’ after playing through the pain barrier for Newcastle on Friday… with Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster ‘called up as his replacement’ SEVEN years since last international appearance

  • Newcastle’s Nick Pope has been forced to withdraw from the England squad 
  • The Magpies No. 1 has reportedly been nursing a minor injury over recent weeks
  • Fraser Forster has been called up as Pope’s replacement by Gareth Southgate 

Fraser Forster has reportedly been called up to the England squad in place of Newcastle keeper Nick Pope – who has withdrawn with an injury.

Pope, who was joined in the goalkeeping department in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad by Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale – the same three keepers who went to the World Cup – has won 10 caps for England since making his debut in 2018.

However, despite playing the full 90 minutes of Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Friday, Pope has been managing a minor injury, according to The Athletic.

The report states the 30-year-old missed significant periods of training last week and is now set to receive treatment during the international break.

Forster – who has not played for England since 2016 – is reportedly set to replace Pope in the squad, with the Tottenham stopper having deputised at club level for Hugo Lloris since January while the Spurs captain has been absent with a knee injury.

Fraser Forster has been called up to the England squad in place of the injured Nick Pope

Pope played the full 90 minutes of Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Friday night

Forster has racked up 13 appearances for Spurs this season and returns to England duty after also being called up as a late replacement in March 2022 for friendlies with Switzerland and Ivory Coast when Sam Johnstone picked up a knock.

He was a regular in Three Lions squads under Roy Hodgson and won six caps between 2013-2016. 

Forster also went to both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Euros with England where he served as an understudy to Joe Hart.

The 35-year-old – who joined Spurs from Southampton on a free transfer in the summer – conceded three times to his former club during a pulsating 3-3 draw on Saturday.

However, he has received praise for his performances during Lloris’s absence.

‘I like Fraser like a man, because he is a very good man,’ Spurs assistant boss Cristian Stellini said recently. 

Forster (C) in England training ahead of the 2014 World Cup with Ben Foster (L) and Joe Hart (R)

Jordan Pickford has been the undisputed No. 1 choice for Gareth Southgate during his tenure

‘His behaviour this season was perfect. Every day, he pushes himself to train really hard and, with this behaviour, he pushes Hugo to train very hard.

‘He is a great man before a great goalkeeper because we don’t have to forget (that) we are men before we are players.

‘The difference between Hugo is we start to think physically. He (Forster) is a keeper perfect for the Premier League style, for the type of game we are going to play in the Premier League, and he uses both feet when he plays with the ball.

‘We trust in him. We completely trust in him.’

England kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with games against Italy on Thursday in Naples, before hosting Ukraine at Wembley next Sunday. 

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