Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope has claimed he didn’t have much to do during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday.

Pope said: “The big games are there to go after for us. We have done that really well this season. The crowd are really behind us in this stadium.

“The boys didn’t give me too much to do so it is good to chip in when I can. You will have moments when you need to make big saves and blocks [like from Conor Gallagher]. The boys were tremendous in front of me and pressed really well. The game plan that was put together, we really believed in it.

“As soon as I signed I felt the excitement in the city and I am over the moon with how it started.

“When the big tournaments [World Cup] are around there will always be people who miss out so we are glad to get through it [without getting injured].”