Pope Keeps Eyes On The Prize

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Clarets keeper in line to start and push claims for Euro 2020 slot

2020-11-12T12:28:17.461Z

Pope Keeps Eyes On The Prize

Clarets keeper in line to start and push claims for Euro 2020 slot

2020-11-12T12:28:17.461Z

Nick Pope will be looking to move a step closer to a place in next summer’s European Championship Finals when he wins a fourth England cap.

Pope is in line to start for England in a Wembley friendly against a Republic of Ireland side that could include Burnley team-mates Robbie Brady and Kevin Long.

Pope’s appearance tonight (Thursday) will follow a start in a 3-0 win over Wales last month as he looks to keep pushing Everton’s Jordan Pickford for England’s number-one jersey.

And after being a regular member of the national set-up since being part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup Finals, Pope has his sights set on another major tournament which will see the Three Lions based at Wembley.

“Every player in this squad, and those that haven’t made this squad, will be looking at the summer as a home tournament and a massive opportunity to take part in a massive event,” said the Clarets’ goalkeeper.

“It’s alive for us; a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The lads in the dressing room here, and I know the ones outside the squad as well, will be doing everything they can to make that final squad because the opportunity is something that won’t come up again for anyone.”

Pope has climbed the ladder to seemingly become the next cab on the rank behind Pickford since his emergence as Burnley’s number-one.

The 28-year-old has been an outstanding performer for the Clarets either side of a season-long absence from the Premier League following a post-World Cup shoulder injury.

And his approach has been applauded by England boss Gareth Southgate, who will be looking to mastermind a first win over Ireland in seven attempts stretching back to 1985.

“Nick has been, first and foremost, a fantastic part of why the squad has progressed and had a reasonable amount of success comparative to what England have done over the years,” said Southgate.

“He's been an incredible member of the squad – high performance level, low maintenance in terms of neediness and sacrifices himself for the team at all moments. You couldn't ask for a better person to have in the group.

“He has had to be so patient to get game time and we feel it’s important he’s getting that.

“We're hugely appreciative of having a goalkeeper of Nick's quality who, at the moment, is just behind Jordan but absolutely that fight is there, that push is there.

“He's got a great habit of keeping the ball out of the net. That's a bit old-fashioned in terms of what people want from goalkeepers.

“They want them to start attacks, create attacks, juggle, do all sorts of things but there's something to be said for coming and collecting crosses, dominating your box and keeping the ball out of your net with good saves, and he does that.

“We couldn't be happier with him as a guy to work with.”

It’s also a big night for another Burnley goalkeeper, with Bailey Peacock-Farrell ready to help Northern Ireland’s bid to reach the delayed finals of Euro 2020.

Northern Ireland face Slovakia at Windsor Park – where just over 1,000 fans will be permitted to attend – in a play-off final, with the winners going through to the tournament proper.

Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson is in a similar position with Iceland, who go to Hungary for their play-off final on Thursday night in pursuit – like Northern Ireland – of a second successive appearance in the Euro finals.

Meanwhile, Burnley striker Matej Vydra came off the bench to play 45 minutes of the Czech Republic’s 1-0 friendly defeat in Germany ahead of two Nations League qualifiers for his country.

And Clarets midfielder Dwight McNeil is set to play for England’s U21s against Andorra at Molinuex on Friday night.