Why Burnley Have Done The Right Thing By Tying Nick Pope Down To A New Contract
Burnley are currently having a good time in the Premier League. They sit 7th in the league table, having amassed a total of 13 points, and Sean Dyche is certainly a positive influence for the team. Besides their performances on the field, Burnley are also dealing quite well when it comes to business involving their players.
Recently, the club extended goalkeeper Nick Pope’s contract. From being an unused player to now penning a three-year deal with Burnley, Pope has certainly come a long way. Interestingly, the 25-year-old made his Premier League debut only last month, when he came on as a substitute after established No. 1 Tom Heaton dislocated his shoulder during their home win against Crystal Palace.
The new contract also includes the option to extend it for an additional 12 months. This should come as good news for Pope since he is likely to play the majority of the season as Heaton has been ruled out for several months after an operation.
Pope was quite strong even during his debut game. For the 54 minutes he played against Palace, he ensured that the opponents were goalless. Additionally, the goalkeeper has kept clean sheets in 2 of his 5 starts, and also put in quite an impressive performance in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
Looking at Pope’s performances, it is quite easy to see that the player is extremely hard-working and devoted to what he does. His development is only progressing, and the contract extension will certainly boost his confidence further. Under Sean Dyche’s watchful eye, the player will receive all the nurturing he requires, in order to bring out his best.
His meteoric rise has also helped in securing the 7th place for Burnley in the league table. The fact that he has embraced this opportunity so well only goes to show that he will never back down from a challenge – and it is a quality that is well-appreciated among footballers.
Before playing for Burnley, Pope has endured several loan spells at clubs like Harrow Borough, Welling United, Cambridge United, Aldershot Town, York City and Bury. The former Charlton player is certainly richly experienced, and that part is showing through in his performances so far.
From here on, the player can only go from strength-to-strength. Burnley play Manchester City next and although it’ll be difficult for the Clarets to keep out a rampant City attack, the game against Newcastle on October 31 should be a good chance for Pope to keep a clean sheet.
Thus, the decision to extend Pope’s contract will prove to be rewarding for Dyche. With Heaton out for months, Pope seems like the ideal replacement, and it will be interesting to see if he can challenge some of the best keepers in the Premier League during the course of the season.