NICK POPE will have a scan on his injured groin this week, with Eddie Howe refusing to say whether the under-fire goalkeeper would have started for Newcastle United at Everton this afternoon had he been fit.

Pope’s position in Newcastle’s starting line-up was called into question after his error led to Marseille’s opening goal in the Magpies’ Champions League defeat in the Stade Velodrome.

Howe defended Pope during his press conference on Friday morning, but a few hours later, the goalkeeper suffered a groin injury during training that meant he was unable to feature in the squad at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Aaron Ramsdale replaced him for Newcastle’s 4-1 win, with Pope due to have a scan in the next few days that will reveal how long he is expected to be on the sidelines.

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