---
title: "Paddy Kenny says Nick Pope improves Newcastle’s squad"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2022/06/28/paddy-kenny-says-nick-pope-improves-newcastles-squad/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2022-06-28T10:34:48Z"
modified: "2022-06-28T10:34:49Z"
---

# Paddy Kenny says Nick Pope improves Newcastle’s squad

Newcastle United recently paid £10m to sign Nick Pope from Burnley [after Freddie Woodman left](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/06/24/eddie-howe-pulled-off-masterclass-upgrading-freddie-woodman-with-nick-pope/) to join Preston North End and the 30-year-old is likely to [push out Karl Darlow](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/06/24/karl-darlow-may-have-to-leave-after-nick-pope-arrival/) and challenge Martin Dubravka for a starting place next season, so Paddy Kenny hailed the North-East club for making a good acquisition.

He told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-uniteds-next-signing-will-be-50m-superstar-after-sky-update-pundit/): “Well you have Pope in. (He is) your solid signing. (He is an) improvement and a good signing. Pope is a good player.” Pope kept 53 clean sheets in [155 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nick-pope/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/192080) for Burnley before joining Newcastle, so he comes with a lot of experience.

The 30-year-old will be hoping to get in the England squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar too, so he needs to dethrone Dubravka to impress Gareth Southgate. [Eddie Howe is close to signing Sven Botman from LOSC Lille](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/06/27/sven-botman-travelling-to-newcastle-to-finalise-deal/) too, so Newcastle’s backline is nearly complete.

The Magpies could line up with Pope or Dubravka between the sticks, Matt Targett at left-back, Fabian Schar or Botman alongside Dan Burn at centre-back and Kieran Trippier at right-back. It’s a defence capable of standing up to most teams, so there’s every reason to believe Newcastle can push for a strong top-half finish.

Midfield is the next area Howe needs to strengthen amid [interest in West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/06/28/newcastle-told-to-make-fantastic-signing-with-tomas-soucek-from-west-ham/).

***[In other news, Paddy Kenny gives verdict on ‘solid’ Matt Targett](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/06/28/paddy-kenny-gives-verdict-on-solid-matt-targett/)***