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Burnley Europa League nightmare as Nick Pope is taken to hospital after serious injury
BURNLEY suffered the worst possible start to their Europa League campaign when goalkeeper Nick Pope went down with a serious-looking injury to his left arm just 10 minutes into their clash with Aberdeen.
Burnley were playing their first match in Europe since 1967 but had already suffered a disrupted preparation after their plane north was delayed, risking UEFA sanctions for failing to fulfil media obligations on the day before the match.
And things went from bad to worse when in the 11th minute, when Pope stretched out a left hand to push the ball away from Lewis Ferguson during a goalmouth scramble.
The Burnley and England goalkeeper got to the ball ahead of Ferguson but onrushing defender James Tarkowski followed through and seemed to collide with Pope's left shoulder.
The 26-year-old hit the floor immediately and signalled to the bench with his other hand that he needed swift attention.
Two physiotherapists rushed on to assess the damage and Pope was soon sitting up but grimacing in pain.
And Sean Dyche was forced to bring on Danish back-up goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard after Pope spent three minutes receiving treatment and was subsequently helped off the field, holding his shoulder gingerly.
One of the former Manchester United stopper's first acts was to pick the ball out of his net as Gary Mackay-Steven slotted home a 19th-minute opener from the penalty spot.
However, Burnley did get something to take back to England when Sam Vokes volleyed in 10 minutes from time, although the travelling fans will still have been concerned about Pope, especially when manager Dyche revealed after the game that he had been taken to hospital.
Sean Dyche confirms that Nick Pope has been taken to hospital following his injury. No further news at this time.
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) July 26, 2018
He himself only became Burnley's first-choice goalkeeper last season by virtue of a shoulder injury to Tom Heaton.
Heaton suffered the injury against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last year and missed more than six months of action.
But Pope seized the opportunity with both hands and resisted the return of Heaton and won a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad, heading to Russia as the third-choice stopper behind Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland.
And he will desperately hope that the problem suffered as a result of the collision with Tarkowski does not rule him out of any significant chunk of his first full Premier League season as a No 1.