‘Tough call’ - Eddie Howe reveals why new Newcastle United signing was dropped v Burnley
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Newcastle United news: Eddie Howe has explained why Nick Pope was selected over Aaron Ramsdale for the win against Burnley on Tuesday night.
Eddie Howe made a bold call ahead of Newcastle United’s win over Burnley on Tuesday night by reinstating Nick Pope to the starting XI.
Pope hadn’t featured for the Magpies since their draw away at Marseille in November, a game in which Pope was culpable for Marseille’s equaliser just after half-time. Pope sustained an injury in the days after that match with Aaron Ramsdale deputising in his place.
Ramsdale, who joined the club from Southampton during the summer transfer window, had made eight consecutive starts before returning to the bench at Turf Moor on Tuesday night. Dropping Ramsdale in favour of Pope was a big call from the Magpies head coach, but one that paid dividends as the former Burnley man returned to Turf Moor to pull off a string of saves to deny the Clarets an equaliser at key points of the game.
Eddie Howe explains Nick Pope/Aaron Ramsdale decision
Pope was one of four changes Howe named from the side that started their defeat at Old Trafford on Boxing Day and the Magpies’ head coach admitted that it was a ‘tough call’ to drop Ramsdale in favour of the former Claret: “It's a tough call,” Howe said.
“I think it always is a tough call, the goalkeeper position because it's such an important one. We feel we've got two really good goalkeepers and Aaron's done very well in Nick's absence.
“But today I thought it was the right time to bring Nick back for the reasons that you saw in the game. He makes big saves, he has this ability to stay very still in his goal and block the ball from going in.
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“Again, it's a bit like Yoane [Wissa] in terms of scoring goals, it's a gift, it's something that he's always done for us. I've always trusted Nick to do that for us and I don't think he's ever let us down. I'm delighted for him and his return to the team.”
Howe added: “It's a difficult one because players always have to prove that. I might have that opinion of them, but of course, that opinion is always liable to change.
“The players always have to perform. You can't pick players on reputation, but Nick for me, since I've been here, has always made big saves.
“He's got the ability to make big saves. Even if they look slightly unconventional sometimes, he'll block the ball from going in. I think that's what he did tonight with that save in the second half.
“It was a huge moment for the team and for him and for us. But he blocks the ball from going in and that's ultimately what the goalkeeper's most important role is in my opinion.
“And he's also a really good talker, he's a really good organiser and he's a big presence in the dressing room. So for all those reasons, I think he was the right goalkeeper to play.”
Both Pope and Ramsdale will be vying to be picked in Howe’s starting XI when Crystal Palace head to St James’ Park on Sunday for their first match of 2026.