Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has paid tribute to Nick Pope after he went through with surgery.

Pope is out for the club's last game of the season after going under the knife to deal with an issue that could have hampered his preparations for next season.

Howe was more than happy to let his keeper make that decision, as he knew that Pope's finger problem was only being patched over until the Magpies had secured Champions League qualification.

He stated to reporters: "Nick has been an incredible signing for us, he really has. His goalkeeping has been very, very good.

"He's been very consistent and made huge saves from day one. Against Leicester, he had nothing to do until right at the end.

"It was always going to be possibly like that. We got a bit nervy and jittery and ended up playing deep passes in and around our box and sitting off them for the first time in the game. They're always going to get a moment, and that's where you need your goalkeeper to keep his concentration and deliver, and Nick did again."