NICK POPE readily admits he is desperate to win the Carabao Cup with Newcastle United this season – because his biggest achievement in the game to date is finishing third in League Two.
Pope might have been part of the England squad at the World Cup in Qatar, but domestically, his career has not featured too many highpoints.
His main achievement with a club side came in the 2014-15 season when a loan spell with Bury coincided with the Shakers claiming the final automatic promotion spot in League Two.
He never came close to claiming silverware during his six seasons with Burnley, but with Newcastle heading into a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final with Southampton tomorrow night, the 30-year-old is hoping his first season on Tyneside will feature a maiden club appearance at Wembley.
“The players and fans want to win a trophy,” said Pope, whose remarkable second-half save from Jean-Philippe Mateta enabled Newcastle to claim a point at Crystal Palace on Saturday night. “That is part of the ambition.
“Not many in the dressing room have played in many semi-finals or finals and that is why that is part of the excitement at this football club, having this opportunity to play in the game and push ourselves towards getting a trophy. I have got a third place in League Two - that is not much to shout about. I would like to add to that.”
Tomorrow night’s game provides Newcastle with a first semi-final appearance in a major domestic trophy since 2001, with the club’s wait for a major trophy stretching all the way back to 1969, when the Magpies claimed the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Their last domestic trophy came in 1955, when they lifted the FA Cup, and Pope readily admits the length of the barren run is remarkable for a club of Newcastle’s size and stature.
“You are reminded of that before every cup game,” said the shot-stopper. “You realise the stature of this club, and they have had a great team down the years without winning things.
“You think of (Sir Bobby) Robson, (Alan) Shearer, (Faustino) Asprilla – they have not quite got over the line and it is driving the dressing room to put this right.
“I have only been here six months, and even I know that. It is something to look forward to, to have that challenge. We have a long way to go, so we are not getting ahead of ourselves, but it is great to have that carrot and have exciting things to chase, rather than fighting off relegation.”
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