‘I've not told anyone’: £10M Newcastle player admits he received a call from Thomas Tuchel the other day

Newcastle United have seen a significant shift in their representation within the England national squad in recent seasons. For years, their players were often overlooked, but under Eddie Howe’s leadership, the club has become a source of international talent.

The transformation has been a welcome change for fans who are now accustomed to seeing their club’s top performers earn call-ups to the Three Lions.

Callum Wilson represented England in the 2022 World Cup alongside Nick Pope, while Anthony Gordon received his first national team call-up in March 2024 under Gareth Southgate. Gordon later scored his first international goal against Ireland in November, assisted by teammate Tino Livramento.

Left-back Lewis Hall also made his England debut that same month, featuring against Greece before earning his first start against Ireland a few days later. With Thomas Tuchel set to announce his first England squad since taking over as manager, speculation has started about which Newcastle players might make the cut.

One notable development emerged when Nick Pope revealed he recently received a call from the new national team boss, sparking conversations about his potential return to the squad.

Pope, who has earned ten caps since his England debut in 2018, was included in the squad for UEFA Nations League matches in September and October but did not feature. He was later left out of the November selections, a decision that raised questions about his standing with the national team.

The goalkeeper joined Newcastle in 2022 for £10 million and had been sidelined for six weeks due to a knee injury before returning to the squad for a victory against Southampton.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James’ Park on December 04, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

However, with Martin Dubravka performing exceptionally well in Pope’s absence, there is no guarantee he will reclaim his starting position. In a video shared on Newcastle’s YouTube channel, Pope was asked about the most famous contact on his phone.

He responded by revealing that England manager Thomas Tuchel had recently called him. Without elaborating on the details of their conversation, the revelation strongly suggests that Tuchel was discussing Pope’s potential involvement in the England squad for the upcoming international break in March.

Tuchel is expected to announce his first England squad on March 13, and Pope’s inclusion remains uncertain given the competition for places. Dubravka’s performances in goal have presented a selection dilemma for Eddie Howe ahead of Newcastle’s upcoming clash against Fulham at St. James’ Park.

When questioned in a pre-match press conference about Pope’s chances of starting, Howe emphasized the importance of competition within the squad. He stated that he does not believe in having a permanent first-choice goalkeeper and prefers players to earn their place based on performance.

So far this season, Pope has kept three clean sheets in 15 matches, conceding 21 goals. In contrast, Dubravka has recorded five clean sheets while conceding only six goals in eight games. The numbers suggest that Dubravka has been more reliable, adding to Howe’s difficult decision regarding who will start against Fulham.

If Newcastle secures a victory and other results go their way, they could end the game week sitting third in the Premier League table, which would be a significant boost in their campaign. With the international break approaching, the battle for the starting goalkeeper position at both club and national level adds further intrigue to Newcastle’s season.