Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope undergoes knee surgery to repair cartilage after missing Euro 2020

Nick Pope has undergone surgery on the knee injury that ended the Burnley goalkeeper’s hopes of being selected for England in this summer’s European Championship.

Pope has won seven caps for his country and would have been expected to take his place in Gareth Southgate‘s squad, but the 29-year-old missed the final three games of the recently completed Premier League campaign.

He had been hoping to feature against Sheffield United in last Sunday’s season finale but felt further discomfort in his left knee, so he had what Burnley termed a ‘successful’ operation to address a cartilage issue.

Friday 11 June

European Championship

Group Stage

Turkey

Italy

Saturday 12 June

European Championship

Group Stage

Wales

Switzerland

Group Stage

Denmark

Finland

Group Stage

Belgium

Russia

Sunday 13 June

European Championship

Group Stage

England

Croatia

Keeper Nick Pope has had ‘successful’ surgery on his knee, his club Burnley have revealed 

Clarets boss Sean Dyche is optimistic about Pope’s rehabilitation and said on the club’s website: ‘We’re expecting the recovery to go well at this early stage, but we’ll wait and see as he recovers.

‘He’s had a really, really good season once again. He continues to develop into a top, top keeper.

‘He’s incredibly unfortunate to have this happen at this time but once again he’s shown what a top keeper he is during the season and I’m sure will do again going into next season once he recovers.’

Pope kept 11 clean sheets over the course of the campaign – only three others kept more – and was a starter in all three of England’s World Cup qualifiers in March, the last time Southgate’s side were in action.

Southgate acknowledged the blow of losing Pope when he announced his provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2020 on Tuesday.

‘For Nick, it’s heartbreaking to get an injury so close to a major tournament,’ Southgate said.

The issue has ruined Pope’s chances of being involved in England’s Euro 2020 campaign

‘He’s been a fantastic member of our squad; a totally unselfish guy. In Russia, he spent hour after hour throwing himself around for penalties, which was as important in our penalty shoot-out success as the guys who took them.

‘Him and (then Stoke goalkeeper) Jack Butland were phenomenal in those situations. I’m really disappointed for him.’

In Pope’s place, Southgate has added the uncapped duo of Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone to his side to run the rule over them.