Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Adam Lallana believes Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope is 'world class' following his man of the match performance against the Seagulls on Saturday.
Pope has kept back-to-back clean sheets in Newcastle's opening two matches against Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectively. Forest failed to register a single shot on target at St James' Park but Pope was forced into five saves as he helped guide the Magpies to a goalless draw at the Amex.
He kept out Solly March twice and produced an incredible stop to thwart Adam Lallana's header. Lallana, who knows Pope from training with England, insists Pope's performance at Brighton showed exactly why Newcastle signed him.
"Pope was man of the match and that explains it all," Lallana said.
"He's a world-class keeper, plays for England. He showed exactly why Newcastle bought him in the summer.
"I know him from my time with England. He's a great lad and he's a great shot-stopper."
The 30-year-old has eight caps for England with his most recent outing for the Three Lions coming in a 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast in an international friendly in March.
Pope will look to use his move to Tyneside to his advantage by staking a claim for a place at the 2022 World Cup. Although Jordan Pickford has retained his position as first-choice goalkeeper under Gareth Southgate, Pope is more than capable of challenging for a place along with Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
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