Newcastle injury crisis deepens before Everton after 'massive' blow

Newcastle United are set to be without Nick Pope for their visit to Goodison Park on Thursday after the goalkeeper suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder.

The England international sustained the injury in the closing stages of the Magpies' 1-0 victory over Manchester United at St James' Park on Saturday after landing awkwardly late on when diving. Pope was swiftly replaced by Martin Dubravka after leaving the field gingerly with the help of Newcastle's medical staff.

Speaking after the game, manager Eddie Howe revealed that he expects Pope to be sidelined for some time with what appears to be a serious injury and a "massive blow" for his already injury-stricken side. Such an issue could keep Newcastle's No.1 out of action until the end of January.

"It will be a massive blow for us if he is ruled out for any length of time," Howe told reporters after the game, via the Chronicle. "It looked really innocuous, but that is usually the way and they are normally the more serious ones.

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"You could see he was in distress and it looked like he dislocated his shoulder just diving. Martin Dubravka came on in a tricky situation with ten minutes to go, narrow lead. which is not nice for a goalkeeper, so I have to compliment him for doing so well.

"Nick has done it before and had it operated on and come back successfully. But I don't know what the future holds for him, I don't know if he will need an operation or not, but we will get it checked out and fingers crossed he will be back soon."

Everton, off the back of their own Saturday night victory at Nottingham