Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope will miss the final game of the season and upcoming England internationals as he undergoes surgery on his hand.

The 31-year-old, who has ten caps to his name, has not been named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.

He will also miss the Magpies’ final match of the Premier League season against Chelsea on Sunday 28 May.

Pope has been instrumental in the Magpies’ success this season as they booked their place in the Champion’s League for the first time in two decades, registering the joint second number of clean sheets in the Premier League.

His Newcastle teammates Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson have been named in Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad.

Trippier was named Newcastle United’s Player of the Season, while Callum Wilson looks set to end the season as the Magpies’ top scorer, racking up 18 goals.

Sunderland-born duo Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford have also been named in the 25-man squad.

They will travel to Malta for the first of the two fixtures on 16 June, before facing North Macedonia at Wembley on 19 June.

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North-East Team of the Season: Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Sunderland

Northern Echo Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson selects his North-East Team of the Season for the 2022-23 campaign.

There was extremely strong competition in this category, but it’s impossible to look past Pope, who proved to be one of the buys of the summer after joining Newcastle from Burnley for just £10m. Pope’s shot-stopping skills were a key part of the Magpies’ defensive strength all season, from his Man of the Match display at Brighton in the first away game to the reflex stop from Thomas Castagne in the final seconds of the final home fixture that helped confirm a Champions League place.

Newcastle’s ‘Captain Fantastic’ was the heartbeat of the club’s rise into the top three. His leadership skills shone through throughout the campaign and were perhaps best exemplified by the ‘penalty switch’ that took the pressure off Alexander Isak at Nottingham Forest. Trippier’s sublime set-piece deliveries were one of Newcastle’s key attacking assets, and his tally of seven assists puts in him the top ten players in the Premier League in any position.

Batth’s arrival at the Stadium of Light on a free transfer 18 months ago might not have made many headlines, but the 32-year-old has developed into the linchpin of the Sunderland defense. Batth played in 40 league games this season, and after helping to hold things together as injuries hit hard, his own injury issue could not have come at a worse time. Perhaps the Black Cats would have been able to withstand Luton’s aerial bombardment if he had been present at Kenilworth Road in the playoffs.

Newcastle had to be persistent to get their man, but their patience paid off as Botman’s £32m move from Lille last summer turned out to be a masterstroke. The 23-year-old has started every league game since the start of October, with his positional excellence, aerial prowess, and comfort in possession enabling him to establish himself as one of the leading center-halves in the Premier League. His partnership with Fabian Schar has formed the bedrock of Newcastle’s defensive excellence.

Middlesbrough knew they were getting an attacking full-back of immense promise when they signed Giles on loan from Wolves – what they probably didn’t realize at the time is that they were also recruiting a player who could help transform their attacking play. Giles’ raids down the left flank troubled Championship defenses all season, and he ended the campaign with 11 assists to his name, more than any other defender in the second tier.

Newcastle’s midfield has hit the right notes all season, but it is Guimaraes who has been the conductor-in-chief. The Brazilian is an exceptional midfielder, combining energy and tenacity with exemplary technique and sublime creative vision. His value to Eddie Howe’s side is immense given that he can play in an attacking-midfield role or as a defensive shield protecting the back four, and he is firmly established as a fans’ favorite.