Newcastle United will be without their goalkeeper for four months in all.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has confirmed that Nick Pope will be out until April, putting an end to thoughts of him returning this month.
Pope has been out of action since early December due to shoulder dislocation sustained during Newcastle’s 1-0 home win against Manchester United.
There were suggestions Pope will return in mid to late March, but Howe told NewcastleWorld: “It’s more likely to be next month; I don’t think we’ll see him this month.”
“He’s making good progress after his injury, but we need to be cautious. A goalie must be completely fit, especially if they have shoulder difficulties. So, sure, I believe next month.”
The England goalkeeper has returned to light training at the club’s Benton training facility, but is limited to gym work and modest hand workouts.
Meanwhile, Martin Dubravka will continue to deputise, and while the Slovakian has recently performed admirably, most notably in an FA Cup penalty shootout victory over Blackburn Rovers, Pope’s absence might define the season.
With Pope in goal, United has conceded 19 goals in 20 games, while allowing 35 goals in the same number of games.
The majority of those goals have come from Dubravka, with the exception of the recent 4-1 defeat against Arsenal, when Loris Karius made only his second appearance in a year.
Since losing Pope, Howe’s team have only preserved four clean sheets, two of which came against Fulham. Their 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday marked their first Premier League clean sheet since December 16.
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