Nick Pope's agent has exclusively told Sports Mole that the Burnley goalkeeper was rejected by a series of Conference and League Two clubs in the early stages of his career.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a terrific 2019-20 season for the Clarets, keeping 15 clean sheets in 38 Premier League appearances, and he is being tipped to be given the nod between the sticks for England in the UEFA Nations League.
Jordan Pickford has been the nation's number one stopper, but the Everton man's form has been called into question in recent months, meaning that Gareth Southgate could turn to Pope against Iceland on Saturday night.
Pope's agent David Lee spoke exclusively to Sports Mole about the goalkeeper and detailed his rise over the last few years, progressing from non-league to the Premier League and now England.
"He's probably the easiest client I've got. He's nailed on for the England squad now, fifteen clean sheets for Burnley is some going.... the way they defend is a team effort from the front so it's not all Nick, but he seems to produce a save when he's called upon and as a lad he is just focused, not one of those to be out," said Lee.
"His Mrs, her dad was a footballer, Kevin Horlock, so she's been around it and seen both sides, can see what a footballer should and shouldn't be doing so I think she understands and she is good with him. He is a great, he's got a little girl and another child on the way, and he's just happy-go-lucky, he sometimes can't believe where he is and what he is doing. If there is ever a player who deserves it for the hard work that he has put in then it is Nick for sure.
"I remember offering him on loan to clubs, six, seven years ago, offering him to Conference clubs, League Two on loan and managers were saying: 'No chance, he can't kick a football, I can't have him'. Aldershot sent him back from loan, said: 'He's nowhere near it, he's not good enough.' That was seven years ago.
"He moved to Burnley as a number three... he was number two the following season, got his chance against Crystal Palace and pulled off a great save early against [Christian] Benteke, I remember sitting in the front room and hearing he has come on and told the Mrs to turn the television over and we were watching Burnley.
"He got in the team and took it in his stride, he wasn't flustered and he's got real deep belief that he deserves to be there, which is sometimes a key part of it, you see a lot of kids get a chance and you look at them in the eye and deep down they don't really think they are ready... it makes a big difference. You sometimes get one chance."
Pope has now made 83 appearances for Burnley, joining the club from Charlton Athletic in 2016, while he has earned caps for England against Costa Rica and Kosovo.
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Matt Law
