Gary Lineker has now been airing his concerns over a fresh challenge Eddie Howe will now face at Newcastle United over the festive period.
Lineker was speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast following a busy weekend of football and was first of all praising Eddie Howe.
The pundit said Howe was doing a remarkable job, especially with all of the injuries considered.
However, Lineker was now very concerned with the latest issue Howe will face at Newcastle.
Lineker said: “I want to talk about Eddie Howe because he’s done a remarkable job, particularly when you take into account the injuries that Newcastle have got at present.
“I know they still have a good 11 out, but the bench was a lot of youngsters.
“Now Nick Pope has gone and done his shoulder which is a serious concern because a dislocated shoulder for any player is not great, but for a goalkeeper, and he’s done it before, but what a job he has done and is doing.”
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Of course, we are still awaiting further clarity on Pope’s injury, but it certainly is a concern.
Gary Lineker thinks Nick Pope’s injury is a huge blow to Eddie Howe and Newcastle
Perhaps of all of Newcastle’s injury blows, Pope’s could prove the most destabilising.
Martin Dubravka is a fine goalkeeper, an excellent number two, however Pope is capable of regularly producing world class displays.
Pope’s performances in the Champions League have reminded of some famous nights at Celtic, when Fraser Forster was single-handedly denying the likes of Lionel Messi.
Newcastle’s back line has already been so disrupted by injuries, and has now taken a big leap into the unfamiliar.
Although Dubravka has a ton of appearances at St. James’ Park, it does now seem like a long time ago.
And Gary Lineker is right to highlight the challenge that Eddie Howe and Newcastle now face, one that is familiar but now taken to another extent.
Of course, this Newcastle team are still showing no signs of slowing down despite all of this misfortune.
And Alan Shearer has now admitted his shock at the emergence of one player showing a ton of potential.