Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope is expected to be out for a month with knee ligament damage

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope is expected to be out for around a month after suffering a knee injury against Brentford last weekend.

He then felt pain during training during the week.

Speaking about Saturday’s game against Leicester City, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said the 32-year-old would consult a specialist on Friday to diagnose the severity of the problem.

A source with knowledge of these tests, who wished to remain anonymous to protect relations, says he was diagnosed with a small tear in one of his knee ligaments, treatment for which is already underway.

After that, Pope is expected to be out for around a month, which would see the England international miss Newcastle’s entire festive Christmas schedule.

This is a crucial series of games for the club, who sit 12th in the Premier League. After Leicester, Newcastle face Brentford in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before traveling to Ipswich Town.

“At first we thought it was nothing,” Howe told reporters at his regular pregame news conference. “(Pope) is asking for an expert opinion today and then we will see if he is available.”

With Pope set to retire soon, Martin Dubravka represents an experienced replacement. “We have a very strong unit,” Howe said. “We have a very good goalkeeping team. Looking at the experience behind Nick, it’s a great thing for us to leverage. Let’s see what happens with Nick today, but we support all the goalkeepers we have.”

Howe said Joe Willock, the midfielder, had “made good progress” after the minor hamstring injury that ruled him out at Brentford, despite not training with the first team this week, and that Lewis Miley was “looking really good”. as he continues his rehabilitation from a metatarsal fracture.

The athletic one reported on Thursday that striker Callum Wilson will be sidelined for an extended period after another injury setback.

The 32-year-old has only made four appearances this season and only recently returned from a long-term back injury.

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