IF you’re a goalkeeper hoping to feature in England’s World Cup squad, and you’re keen to give your international manager a nudge as he ponders the make-up of his final selection, then proving you know how to save penalties is a decent start.

Nick Pope’s place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-strong group for Qatar was almost certainly already assured before he lined up against Crystal Palace in Newcastle United’s penultimate outing before the World Cup shutdown, but what happened next as the Magpies progressed to the Carabao Cup fourth round can only have helped his cause.

With the game at St James’ Park having finished goalless, Pope saved three of Palace’s five penalties, denying Luka Milivojevic, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Malcolm Ebiowei as Newcastle progressed. Given England’s wretched spot-kick record at major finals stretching back more than three decades, the presence of a goalkeeper who is proven from 12 yards can only help.

“The first penalty save was right out of the top drawer,” said Newcastle head coach Howe, who has been championing Pope’s England credentials for quite a while now. “There was a save in the first half that was right out of the top drawer as well, so it wasn’t just the penalty shoot-out, but he’s been doing that for us all season. He’s a very commanding figure, but he’s kept goal with such low fuss, it sort of goes unnoticed what a difference he’s made.”

Jordan Pickford remains firmly established as England’s number one goalkeeper, but the strength of Pope’s performances since joining Newcastle from Burnley in the summer mean he has leapfrogged Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale to establish himself as Southgate’s preferred number two.

The pecking order was confirmed when Pope was selected for September’s Nations League matches against Italy and Germany with Pickford unavailable because of injury, and while the 30-year-old’s autumn performances were far from unblemished – his failure to hold on to a late shot enabled Kai Havertz to stab home a German equaliser in a 3-3 draw at Wembley – his subsequent ability to shrug off the setback in order to continue impressing with Newcastle confirmed his mental resilience.

He is not as good with his feet as Pickford, although the quality of his distribution has improved significantly since he left Turf Moor, but his shot-stopping abilities and command of his 18-yard box are a match for the Wearside rival and the chief reasons why he has moved above Ramsdale and Dean Henderson in the pecking order.

Unlike their outfield team-mates, who can always hope to make telling contributions from the substitutes’ bench even if they are not selected in the starting side, the primary job of a second or third-choice goalkeeper at a major tournament is to support the established number one and help deliver the best possible training regime.

Pope, who openly accepts this could well be his final opportunity to experience a major tournament after being an unused third-choice in Russia in 2018 and missing the last Euros because of injury, will be the ideal squad man. However, if Pickford was to be unavailable for any reason, he has proven he is more than capable of stepping up.

“We know what Nick’s about,” said Southgate. “He’s a very good goalkeeper, and his performances have been good and strong.”