England keeper Pope requires knee surgery, could miss Euros

Posted May 23, 2021 7:00 am

The Associated Press

BURNLEY, England (AP) - England goalkeeper Nick Pope could miss the European Championship because he requires an operation on his injured knee.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said Sunday that Pope will undergo 'œminor surgery'ť next week.

'œThat's not ideal for him or us and possibly for the England team,'ť Dyche said.

Pope was likely to be England's second-choice goalkeeper behind Jordan Pickford at Euro 2020.

England coach Gareth Southgate is scheduled to select his 26-man squad on Tuesday. The team's first match is against Croatia on June 13.

Pope was absent for Burnley's final game in the Premier League, at Sheffield United on Sunday, having missed the team's last two games.

'œIt's nothing too serious, we don't think, but it still needed doing," Dyche said. 'œHe was trying to get right for this game to give it a test but didn't quite come through in training so he and we have had to make a judgment call on that.

'œIt's mainly down to him and he knows what he's got to do. He'll have that (the operation) done this week and hopefully it will settle down for a quick recovery.'ť

If Pope does miss the Euros, Manchester United's Dean Henderson will likely be backup to Pickford.

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Burnley's goalkeeper Nick Pope tips the ball away from West Ham's Michail Antonio, right during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and West Ham United and at Turf Moor stadium in Burnley, England, Monday, May 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool) The Associated Press

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