'No hesitation': Eddie Howe addresses the goalkeeper situation and rumours aroud David De Gea

Eddie Howe today confirmed that Newcastle United will be without Nick Pope for around four months.

Nick Pope had to be taken out of the game on Saturday against Manchester United after dislocating his shoulder during the game. It immediately looked like a bad injury when it happened and this morning in his pre-match press conference, Eddie Howe confirmed that Pope will need surgery and is expected to be out for around four months.

It won't be the first time Pope has had to have surgery on a dislocated shoulder having suffered a similar injury in his Burnley days.

Howe has full confidence in Martin Dubravka

Howe stated that it's a huge blow as Pope has been in 'the best form since he joined the club' but went on to praise Martin Dubravka and put to bed rumours of signing a replacement.

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Former Manchester United stopper David De Gea has been strongly linked with a move to Tyneside to fill in as the Spaniard is still without a club since departing Old Trafford.

However, Eddie Howe squashed those rumours (via The Chronicle).

Eddie Howe is not panic-buying a new goalkeeper

"I've always had a high opinion of him (Dubravka). Martin is a high class goalkeeper, a brilliant shot-stopper and very good with his feet too so there's no hesitation about bringing him into the team.

"I've seen a lot of media headlines regarding goalkeepers and other players. We have not made any enquiries. If we were to recruit now we'd be recruiting in every area on the pitch. It's a chance for the other keepers to consolidate their positions."

Dubravka has never let us down so we don't expect him to start now, and in all honesty, we'd rather have him than De Gea anyway.

It's good that we're not panicking and buying new players just to replace injured squad members when we still have clear gaps in the squad that need addressing first.