NEWCASTLE fans have hatched a wild plan that would allow Nick Pope to play in the Carabao Cup final.
The goalkeeper was sent off in the Toon’s loss to Liverpool in the Premier League, meaning he is suspended for the clash with Manchester United at Wembley.
Second choice stopper Martin Dubravka can also not play as he is cup tied having represented the Red Devils earlier on in the competition while on loan at Old Trafford.
Additionally, Karl Darlow is at Hull until the end of the season, so manager Eddie Howe has to select Loris Karius or Mark Gillespie as the club go for their first major trophy since 1954/55.
Karius is best known for his horror mistakes while at Liverpool in the Champions League final in 2018 and he has not yet played for Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Gillespie has only ever featured three times for the club and has not stood between the sticks since 2020.
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Therefore, Newcastle fans have come up with a creative and bonkers idea to get Pope to play.
Some desperate supporters have suggested he gets loaned out to English sixth tier side Blyth Spartans and he serves his suspension there.
They can still sign players because their league’s transfer window is open until March.
Blyth Spartans face Telford United on Saturday, which would allow him to miss one match for them, get recalled by Newcastle, and then face Man Utd on Sunday.
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However, having investigated the rules, this plan would not be allowed as no team can deregister and re-register a player in the same week.
It’s certainly a unique attempt at finding a way around the rules, which shows fans clearly don’t have much hope in Karius, who is expected to play.
A member of the Newcastle faithful even photoshopped Pope in a disguise and joked how much the forgotten man Karius has changed since his howlers for Liverpool.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
