Trippier delighted to lead out England

KIERAN Trippier cannot wait to lead England out in front of fans for the first time as the right-back prepares to skipper the side against Andorra tonight.

The 31-year-old has established himself as a key component of the Three Lions set-up since making his debut in 2017.

He shone in the run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and will win his 35th cap in tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Andorra, where Southgate confirmed the Atletico Madrid right-back will wear the captain’s armband.

The full-back skippered the national team in a friendly against Wales this time last year, but this will be the first time he will captain England in front of supporters.

As a player, to captain your country is one of my best feelings, one of the proudest moments of my career,” he said. “Hopefully I can follow that up with a win but I’m speechless, really, to captain my country and lead the boys out. You know obviously something I’ll never ever forget.”

Preparations for the game were disrupted yesterday when a fire broke out at Andorra’s national stadium.

England trained at the Estadi Nacional yesterday lunchtime.

Shortly after they left the 3,300-capacity stadium a spectacular fire broke out on the TV gantry, with black smoke filling the air as flames ripped through the structure.

Stadium staff tried to get the fire under control with the pitch sprinklers before the fire brigade arrived. There was debris on the pitch and widespread damage to the touchline in Andorra, where they have an artificial surface.