Nick Pope is targeting a swift return to action after undergoing surgery for a long-running hand issue. The Newcastle United stopper has been playing through the pain in recent months but took advantage of the club's early Champions League qualification by bringing the planned operation forward earlier this week.
Pope will miss the season finale against Chelsea on Sunday and has also been left out of the England squad for next month's fixtures with Malta and North Macedonia. However, the 30-year-old is set to return in pre-season when the club jet out to the United States.
“I’ve had it for a couple of months,” Pope told the BBC on Wednesday. “It’s something that has been lingering and lingering. It was nice to get it sorted, everything went really well, so all positive steps.
