FULL-BACK TO THE FUTURE
Tino and Lewis on a Tripp
EDDIE HOWE has explained why Newcastle have spent £30million on Kieran Trippier’s successor – who is yet to kick a ball.
The England right-back has been excellent this season for the Geordies, including a leading performance in the goalless draw away to AC Milan in midweek.
Despite having a limited transfer budget this summer due to Financial Fair Play rules, the club spent a big chunk on young prospect Tino Livramento from Southampton.
They also committed to forking out £28m on teenage leftback Lewis Hall, who joined on loan from Chelsea ahead of a permanent move next summer.
Those deals mean Newcastle have future-proofed their fullback positions for years to come.
But with Hall also still not figuring and “being built up” in training, fans have debated whether the cash could have been spent on a ready-made player guaranteed to be in the first XI.
Trippier, 33, shows no sign of giving up his starring role for club or country.
Asked if Trippier had talked to him about Livramento’s arrival, Toon boss Howe said: “We have not had that conversation.
“Kieran has been in the game a long time and understands the dynamics of the game – we need a strong squad.
“We can’t be over-reliant on one player – if that player gets injured, then the team suffers.
“He understands that and there is that competition, though he doesn’t need it, to produce his best form.
“I thought Tripps was absolutely fabulous against Milan, a very, very difficult opponent. I think he has been very good this season. He has come up against some very difficult opponents and defensively he has been spot on.
“The way he used the ball against Milan was very good. I am delighted with him and with his leadership skills, how he uses his experience to help his teammates around him. He was part of a very good defensive display.”
Howe is hoping his team “reignite” their “A-game” after some tough games at the start of the season. They have two clean sheets in the last week after a three-game losing run and he said: “It always goes in phases.
“The potential for the team, the squad, is high but confidence is such an easy word to use but such a difficult thing to find.
“Hopefully the last two results will have given us that missing ingredient back. We needed a win. Going into the Brentford game, we were determined to try and break the run of results we had. We did that.
“We then got a huge point against Milan with a really good defensive display so hopefully that platform can reignite our A-game. We know there’s growth in that performance.
“We know we can improve but it’s only by getting good results, sometimes, that that comes.”
Ahead of today’s trip to Sheffield United, Howe says he will “constantly evolve” his tactics and team but added: “You have to be careful that you don’t lose your core strengths. We will and always have continually tweaked things that will make us better.
“I don’t think we’re at a stage where we’re predictable. I don’t think we’re at a stage where we have become easy to play against but you always have to constantly have an eye on that, for sure.”