Newcastle United injuries: Nick Pope has advanced his recovery from a dislocated shoulder.
Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope has resumed limited training following a dislocated shoulder injury.
The 31-year-old is still ‘a few of weeks away’ from returning to Newcastle after suffering the injury in the 1-0 loss to Manchester United in early December. Since Pope’s injury, Newcastle has plummeted from fifth to ninth in the Premier League table, conceding 34 goals and leaving the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Pope underwent shoulder surgery, but has since returned to the gym and has been back out on the grass for’very, very mild’ practices, according to head coach Eddie Howe. Pope is expected to return for Newcastle’s final few games of the season.
However, Howe downplayed any idea of a return in the near future during his press conference ahead of Tuesday’s game against Blackburn Rovers (7:45pm kick-off).
“No immediate update, he’s not on the verge of returning,” he said. “He’s still working his way back; he’s still very much gym-based, though I think he’s done a number of hand sessions outside, but very, very gently at this time, so I still think he’s a “A number of weeks away.”
Martin Dubravka has taken Pope’s place in the starting lineup, but Loris Karius was utilized in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal owing to Dubravka’s illness.
When asked if Pope will return to the side right away, Howe previously told The Gazette: “He was given roughly four months to return, and I believe he is on course to do so. As for team selection, we’ll have to wait and see when he returns to training.”
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