Nick Pope clears up Gareth Southgate "fall out" claims after latest England snub

Nicke Pope wants to shut out Kylian Mbappe and relaunch his England Euros hopes in Newcastle ’s knife edge Champions League clash at PSG.

The Toon keeper is set for a busy night in Paris with Mbappe having smashed 14 goals in 12 games since he flopped at St James’ Park. He has faced 42 shots in the Champions League away games at Milan and Dortmund this season.

In all, Pope has faced 66 shots on target, conceding four goals, and is the only English keeper playing in the competition. Pope says there has not been a fall out with Southgate after being left out of all squads this season.

He pulled out of the summer internationals to have a finger operation that was “six months overdue”. Jordan Pickford is England No1, with Aaron Ramsdale not playing for Arsenal and Sam Johnstone of Crystal Palace also ahead of Pope.

Pope said: “I’ve got to make it impossible for Gareth to leave me out in the future. It’s down to me. I’ve not had any conversations (with Southgate) to be honest,” he said.

“He’s got a lot of players to look after and other things on his mind, he can’t always be focused on individual players who aren’t in the squad.

“It’s just motivation to do better. I don’t look anywhere else other than myself in the mirror. I want to be back in the England squad, I want to be going to a major tournament at the end of the season. I’m not in the squad, but that’s down to myself. That’s the way I look at it.

“There hasn’t been any fall out. I don’t think so… I had to have surgery on my finger after the Leicester game which was six months overdue to be honest. So, no, there hasn’t been anything like that (a fall out).

“My form has been ok, I’ve been really happy but obviously there are still little things I think I could have done better.