Nick Pope's Newcastle United arrival will sharpen focus on who will score the goals at the other end

Geordies were expecting someone to put the ball in the net but instead they are to be presented with someone to keep it out! Nick Pope, a goalkeeper who will challenge the supremacy of Martin Dubravka, will become the first new face to be signed by Newcastle this summer.

Reality amid all the speculation dawned on fans with the confirmation that Burnley's shot-stopper was coming to Tyneside for a medical. Once a deal makes that stage 99 times out of 100 it goes through . . . unless you are John Beresford at Liverpool.

A Pope arriving at the cathedral on the hill is not what had been United's expected breakthrough signing after the return of Matt Targett especially with the long saga of will-he-won't-he concerning young striking sensation Hugo Ekitike but he will be a welcome addition with the departure of Freddie Woodman likely to be followed by Karl Darlow shooting off to pastures new.

However there is still plenty of time to prioritise massively important positions like centre-forward and centre-half as well as a winger and midfielder. One thing is for certain - Pope is not coming here to sit obediently pitch side as understudy to Dubravka like others before him. He has made that abundantly clear behind scenes. He wants to be on the plane to Qatar for the World Cup finals, something Dubravka and Slovakia cannot achieve and there is only one way of doing that.

If dropping into the Championship would have been detrimental to his dreams then not playing at all as a bench warmer would be even worse. Will Pope have sought firm reassurances before pen hits paper? Without question.

Despite relegation with Burnley Nick was in England's squad alongside Kieran Trippier for all four Nations League matches this month having