Nick Pope: 'I did not think England call-up was possible when I was in non-league'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 15 March 2018

Nick Pope confesses that an England call-up was one of the last things on his mind while attempting to relaunch his career at non-league Bury Town.

Nick Pope has revealed that an England call-up was one of the last things on his mind while attempting to relaunch his career at non-league Bury Town.

The 25-year-old has been named in Gareth Southgate's squad after impressing for Burnley following an injury to fellow Three Lions international and club captain Tom Heaton.

Pope has since gone on to keep 11 clean sheets in the Premier League and help the Clarets climb into the top seven of the table.

The call-up is testament to an impressive climb back up the English football pyramid for Pope, who was released by Ipswich Town as a 16-year-old a decade ago.

"It seems a long way away now and in those times you don't think things like this are even possible," Pope told Clarets Player.

"They are so far from your mind, so to get to this point is a massive achievement and something I'm really proud of and to share that with my family and friends is something I can't wait do."

Pope spent three years playing for Bury Town before joining Charlton Athletic, during which time he went out on loan eight different times, and was snapped up by Burnley in 2016.