Nick Pope makes amusing 2015 reference discussing Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup final v Manchester United

Newcastle take on Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday (4:30pm kick-off) in what will be the club’s first major cup final in 24 years as they look to end a 54 year trophy drought.

Pope is no stranger to Wembley Stadium having played for England, but this is set to be his first match at club level at the iconic national stadium.

“Of course, the players, staff, fans, everyone here wants to win a trophy," said the 30-year-old. "It's part of the ambition and not many of us in the dressing room would have played in many finals but that's why you want to be a player and that's part of the excitement of this football club at the minute.

"We've got the opportunity to play in these games and push ourselves to get a trophy.”

Pope then made a nod to his automatic promotion while on loan at Bury in 2015 as the biggest success he’s had in his career so far.

“For myself, I've got third place in League Two, it's not much to shout about so I'd like to add to that!”

He added: "[Getting to the final with Newcastle] is right at the top for me, alongside sitting the national anthem and my England debut.

“And if we win it, that'll be alone at the top.”

Pope signed for Newcastle from Burnley last summer for £10million and has quickly settled and flourished in his new surroundings. The England international has kept an impressive 16 clean sheets so far this season while also picking up two Premier League save of the month awards for August and January respectively.

But the boyhood Ipswich Town is well aware of how important a trophy would be to Newcastle and the city.

"Every cup game we get reminded how long it has been so you're never too far away from it,” Pope commented. “When you join you realise the stature of the club and how much it means to the people of Newcastle.

"They've had great teams down the years that haven't won anything, I think back to [Bobby] Robson, [Alan] Shearer, [Tino] Asprilla, top players have played at this club as part of top teams with Champions League football and obviously it just never quite got over the line.

"It's a big driver for the dressing room to try and put that right.

“It's something to look forward to and have that challenge thrown down to us as a squad. We're not getting ahead of ourselves but it's great to have that carrot and have exciting things to chase as a football club rather than staving off relegations.”

On facing Manchester United, Pope admitted: “Of course [it will be a challenge]. To win trophies you have to beat some top teams, that'll be a great game.

“The pitch is green, the lines are there, the goals are at each end. I don't think there's too much to look into really. Play the game, not the occasion [at Wembley].

“That's something we spoke about and it's stood us in good stead this season.”