WHEN Nick Pope last conceded a goal, Rishi Sunak was heading into his second week as Prime Minister and England were still to arrive in Qatar ahead of the start of the World Cup. A lot has happened since then, but Pope’s goalkeeping excellence with Newcastle United has been unwavering.

Tuesday’s clean sheet in the Magpies’ Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win at Southampton was the 30-year-old’s tenth in a row. Remarkably, Pope has gone 901 minutes without having to pick the ball out of the back of his net, a staggering sequence that has been the biggest single factor behind Newcastle’s retention of a top-three position in the Premier League and progress to within 90 minutes of an appearance at Wembley in the League Cup final.

Clearly, Newcastle’s sensational defensive record is down to much more than simply the identity of their goalkeeper. Eddie Howe’s side defend from the front, with the relentless pressing of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton putting opponents onto the back foot in their own half of the field, and their entire back four has been performing excellently this season, both individually and as a collective unit.

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Yet when there has been the need to make crucial big saves, Pope has delivered. His athletic tip-over from Jean-Philippe Mateta ensured Newcastle claimed a point from Saturday’s game at Crystal Palace, and his two second-half stops from Che Adams at St Mary’s on Tuesday were pivotal moments in the Magpies’ win.

The first, when Adams was breaking clear in the 18-yard box, was the result of acute alertness, smart agility off the line and pinpoint positioning. The second, when Adams swivelled from close range to get a shot away, owed much to the sharpness of Pope’s reflexes and the strength of his hands.

You would expect the England international’s team-mates to admire him, and in the wake of Tuesday’s win, Bruno Guimaraes gleefully branded him the ‘best goalkeeper in the world’. Opposition managers can provide a more unbiased assessment, though, and in that respect, Nathan Jones’ post-match reflection on Pope’s standing on Tuesday was instructive.

The main criticism levelled at Pope, especially when discussing his position in the England pecking order in relation to Jordan Pickford, is that the quality of his distribution lets him down. The former Burnley man is not really a ‘sweeper keeper’ in the mould of an Ederson, and cannot really spark lightning-quick counter-attacks like Pickford.

When it comes to the nuts and bolts of the goalkeeper’s art, though, Jones is adamant there is no one better in England. High praise indeed from an opposition boss.

“I think Nick Pope is the best goalkeeper in the league,” said the Southampton boss. “And I say ‘goalkeeper’ when I say that. He might not be the most fashionable one, in terms of what he can do with his feet, but for me, he’s the best actual goalkeeper in the league.

“In terms of goalkeeping – catching it, keeping the ball out of the net, making big saves – then there isn’t a better goalkeeper than Nick Pope. A lot of keepers now are judged on how brilliant they are with their feet and how well they can play. So yes, with that, there are certain ones that are better than Nick Pope. But in terms of being a goalkeeper, and what I think is required in being a top goalkeeper, then he is categorically the best in the Premier League.”

Pope’s current performance levels are even more impressive when his lack of general activity throughout the course of a game is taken into account.

It is not as though he is having to make save after save, as both Shay Given and Tim Krul repeatedly had to do throughout their respective Newcastle careers, so retaining focus and concentration must be a challenge. It is one Pope has proved he is more than up to though, with his ability to make key saves at key moments undoubtedly one of his biggest strengths.

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Eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Newcastle signed the 30-year-old from a relegated Burnley in the summer. Was Pope good enough for a side with the Magpies’ financial clout? Might there not be better, more fashionable alternatives abroad? Suffice to say, those questions have been well and truly answered.

“Those ten clean sheets are a brilliant thing for Nick,” said Howe. “He deserves that accolade. I’m sure he’d be the first to give his credit to his team-mates, but in turn, they’ll probably say, ‘Well, you’ve made some great saves within that run and you fully deserve what you get’.

“He’s been excellent, on and off the pitch, in every respect, since he signed for the club. I can’t speak highly enough of him, I can’t praise him highly enough, and I can’t rate him high enough either. I get to see him work every day, and get to see some of the saves he makes in training, and he’s been doing that consistently. He’s a brilliant shot-stopper, and I think he’s currently in a very good place.”