- The England international now faces the race to be fit for the European Championship
- Howe said he 'really believes' in Martin Dubravka amid David de Gea rumors
- IAN LADYMAN: Liverpool are two players short of another great spell – It all starts
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope will be on the sidelines for around four months as he prepares for shoulder surgery.
The England international dislocated his left shoulder during the 1-0 Premier League win over Man United and head coach Eddie Howe has come to terms with losing him for the majority of the remainder of the season.
“We expect him to have surgery,” the Magpies manager said. 'There's no doubt he needs surgery so he'll be out for a while, we think about four months.
Earlier this week, Mail Sport revealed that the Magpies are considering a shock move for free agent David de Gea as a potential replacement.
However, Howe has played down these rumors, stressing: 'We really believe in Martin Dubravka – I've always had a high opinion of him. Martin is a top-class goalkeeper.'
The Newcastle goalkeeper dislocated his left shoulder during the 1-0 win over Manchester United
Pope is seen with his arm in a sling as he leaves a restaurant in Cheshire on Monday
Asked about his goalkeeper's injury, Howe added: 'It's a big blow for us but one we expected after the game once you saw the dislocation. We actually feared the worst.
“I think he's in the best form since he's been at the football club… obviously he's in the state of the season where we have so many games, big games coming up.
'He obviously has the Euros in front of him, which he still has a chance of, but I think his main determination is to come back for us.
'It was another strange injury for us. There was no reason for that to happen at the time… but his dive was something else and unfortunately we suffer another injury to a big player.”
Free agent David de Gea is rumored to be a replacement for Pope at Newcastle
Now that Pope will be out injured for a long period, Martin Dubravka will get his chance