---
title: "Newcastle United: Keith Downie reveals Nick Pope injury ‘doubt’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/brighton-team-news-pope-injury-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-08-13T08:40:51Z"
modified: "2022-08-13T08:41:44Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Keith Downie reveals Nick Pope injury ‘doubt’

**Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Keith Downie has revealed that Nick Pope is a ‘doubt’ for [Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/)‘s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion.**

### The Lowdown: Team news

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, Eddie Howe confirmed two issues, sharing his [concern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/brighton-team-news-krafth-shelvey-injury/) over the fitness of Emil Krafth while also giving a timeline on Jonjo Shelvey’s injury.

The right-back looks likely to miss out alongside Shelvey against the Seagulls, but it now appears many more could be joining them on the sidelines.

### The Latest: Pope adds another ‘doubt’

[Reports](https://www.themag.co.uk/2022/08/nick-pope-now-doubtful-and-7-newcastle-united-players-set-to-miss-brighton-match-sky-sports/) are now emerging that as many as seven players could miss out, and taking to Twitter, [Downie](https://twitter.com/SkySports_Keith/status/1558167011422863360) has revealed that Pope is also a ‘doubt’ for the game, with either Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow ready to deputise in net for the visitors:

*“Hearing Nick Pope is a doubt for the trip to Brighton tomorrow, with Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow ready to deputise.”*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389224″\]

### The Verdict: Blow

It would be a blow if Pope was forced to miss the match through injury, given that he is now clearly the first-choice goalkeeper.

The England international was signed from Burnley in the summer, and deputised in net in the 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest on the opening Premier League weekend, keeping a clean sheet.

\[freshpress-poll id=”399528″\]

There is no doubting his qualities, as he ranks in the 99th percentile for launch percentage and frequency of  defensive actions made outside the penalty area ([FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/4b40d9ca/Nick-Pope)) for goalkeeper’s in Europe’s top five leagues, and was the second-best performing goalkeeper in the Premier League last season, after Liverpool star Alisson ([WhoScored](https://twitter.com/WhoScored/status/1534150294615080961)).

Nonetheless, the Toon Army will be hoping that they can keep a clean sheet at the Amex Stadium without him.