Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope will have special reason to exchange friendly words with Ben Roberts tomorrow.

The Albion goalkeeper coach once gave a teenage Pope his best-ever birthday present – by telling him he had clinched a professional deal.

Pope is excelling between the sticks for the Premier League’s surprise team after taking over from the injured Tom Heaton.

He was playing non-league when Charlton, where Roberts was goalkeeping coach, decided he was one to watch.

Pope had been let go by Ipswich as a schoolboy and was turning out for Bury Town while taking a business course at college.

Roberts went to watch him play away to Billericay.

Pope later revealed: “I didn’t know during the game that he was there which was probably for the best, but I played well.

The Argus:

Albion coach Ben Roberts

“To hear him say the words ‘We’d like to discuss a professional contract’ was unbelievable. I was absolutely buzzing.”

Pope impressed in a trial and received a call from Roberts on his 19th birthday to go to the club with his parents and discuss terms.

He went on to play 33 league games for the Addicks as well as going on loan to York and the other Bury – at Gigg Lane – before joining Burnley at the start of last season.

He is being considered one of the Premier League success stories of this season after being handed his unexpected chance in a Clarets side who have kept eight clean sheets in 17 games.