So far this season, Newcastle's performances have not been very convincing apart from their brilliant game against Manchester City. Although the fixture against Pep's side brought much-needed big Magpies stars back to form, the harsh truth has been that only a very few have been consistently performing for the club this season.
Newcastle United's star performer free from any major injury concerns
First of all, clearly comes star winger Harvey Barnes, who has led the attack force almost all alone, with some crunch contributions from Anthony Gordon. Apart from Barnes, the second name, who has been significantly consistent this season, is their 32-year-old seasoned star Nick Pope. Having made crucial saves in almost all games this season, Pope has been extremely efficient in the club's success so far.
Given the player's recent form, Newcastle fans would be much happier to know that he hasn't faced any major injury amidst his availability concerns. For context, the Toon star was sidelined for the Carabao Cup fixture against Wimbledon, and it was reported that the keeper had a knee problem. However, manager Eddie Howe's statement after the Carabao fixture win heaved a sigh of relief as he didn't look much concerned about his injury.
Speaking on the keeper's knee problem, Howe remarked,
"“We don’t think it’s serious; it’s just a bit of swelling on his knee.”"Eddie Howe
Not to forget that in Pope's absence, in the latter half of the 2023/24 season, the Magpies club had looked rather miserable, losing out on any European competition berth. Moreover, considering the kind of run the English International has been in, Eddie Howe and the unit can't afford to have him unavailable.
While it is certainly clear from Howe's address that the keeper's knee issue isn't grave, another indication of the fact has arrived from England's recent squad announcement. In the squad member list of the Three Lions, Nick Pope has been named alongside Toon star Anthony Gordon for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Given that the international break arrives just a week after Newcastle's Everton matchday, chances are positive that Nick Pope is free from serious injury concerns. However, given the player's utility in the sticks for Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe would want to have him available for the complete season ahead.