TRIP OF A LIFETIME

City kid Kieran was good... but he’s taken his skill to new level Wing it and you’ll win it

WAYNE BRIDGE knew Kieran Trippier had the makings of a player when the pair were together at Manchester City.

Bridge, back in 2011, was not fancied by City boss Roberto Mancini and banished to train with the kids.

Which is where the England defender picked out young hopeful Trippier as a player who could go a long way.

But, even though he could see the potential, Bridge – who also played for Southampton and Chelsea – admits he has been surprised by the levels that Trippier has taken his game to at this World Cup.

Chances

Bridge said: “Kieran Trippier has been brilliant.

“After two games, he’d created more chances than anyone except Kevin De Bruyne – I’ve been impressed by him, offensively and defensively.

“At the start of the tournament, I would have stuck Kyle Walker at right wing-back and maybe had Gary Cahill on the right of the defensive three.

“But Walker has done really well in the three and England boss Gareth Southgate (above, with Trippier) likes him there.

“And the way Trippier has played makes you realise it was a great decision by the manager.

“It’s the quality of his distribution, crossing, just his passing in general, and how he picks out players.

“I played with Trippier when he was at Manchester City and he has come on in leaps and bounds, he has done really well.

“He always worked hard in training, even then.

“Obviously, I taught him everything he knows,” he added, laughing.

“I got on really well with Kieran, actually, and I like to think I made him a better player.

“Some of the younger ones have a bit of an attitude, but he was always one of those who willing to learn and I’m glad he has done really well.

“What sort of things did I tell him?

“It was when I was training with the kids and Mancini didn’t want me involved with the first team, so I was probably just moaning most of the time, to be honest. “But he was right-back and I was left-back so we’d come up against each other quite a lot, and playing against better players can make you a better player. “I remember Craig Bellamy doing a bit with him, as well, after training.

“Bellamy was a winger, so he’d be up against him and would try to help.

“Craig was always quite good like that with the kids, especially wingers or full-backs.”

Bridge won 36 caps for England and went to the 2002 World Cup as back-up to Ashley Cole in Svengoran Eriksson’s squad. And, while that group got on, he reckons the camaraderie in Southgate’s squad looks far stronger. Bridge added: “From the outside looking in, the lads seem like they get on really well, they seem like they’re into the same things. “It’s already been talked about when I was there that it was a bit cliquey, you had the Liverpool players, or Manchester United players, or the southern players. “It wasn’t that bad, everyone got on, but I don’t think it was much of a unit all the time. But when you look at this team, they seem really close and everyone gets on.”

The further England go in the competition, the more that spirit will be needed to keep boredom in-between games and training sessions at bay.

Bridge said: “They will have stuff they can do, but the management are going to want the players to rest at the same time.

“Although, from what I have seen of the training, that looks like fun too.”

» WAYNE BRIDGE wants to see Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling (left) and Marcus Rashford getting in the face of defenders tasked to stop them. Bridge said: “Get at your full-back straight away and take them on. “If you get the better of them straight away, then they are going to be dreading the next 90 minutes. “And if the full-back is having a bad day, just keep giving it to the winger as it only takes getting the better of him once to create a chance and score a goal. “The wingers we’re talking about are quick, skilful, exciting players and they shouldn’t be afraid of any full-back.”