Kieran can climb to the top with England
Kieran Trippier has faced a mountain of hurdles during his football career. But he’s cleared them all to reach the summit of his career – the World Cup.
Such has been Trippier’s progress that he could have done enough to gain a place in the team for England’s opening match versus Tunisia.
The Tottenham man came through the ranks at Manchester City and won the FA Youth Cup there in 2008. But he never played a game for the first team.
Trippier had to drop down into the Championship at Burnley to kick- start his career, but he has fought his way back to the very top.
“Obviously, I knew at City I was never going to get an opportunity,” he recalls.
“They were buying lots of players and there were lots in front of me.
“They had Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta, both fantastic players.
“It was the best decision of my life to sign for Burnley on a permanent basis.
“I was playing every week in the Championship, getting that experience and playing against men.
“I’ve just built on that, really. My dream was always to play in the Premier League, and I believed that I could.
“I did it with Burnley and then I signed for Spurs.”
At White Hart Lane, Trippier spent the best part of two seasons as understudy to Kyle Walker.
But once he went to Manchester City last summer, Trippier then held off newcomer, Serge Aurier, to become Mauricio Pochettino’s first- choice right-back.
Now, thanks to Gareth Southgate’s switch to three at the back – with Walker moving inside – there is space for the 27- year- old at right wing- back as he looks to complete his spectacular climb.
“It’s been an important season for me personally,” he says.
“Kyle left for City and then Serge came in at Tottenham, so I knew I had another battle on my hands.
“But I kept working on the training field and I knew the World Cup was coming up.
“I needed to play as many games as I could to get selected.
“To be here now, seeing as I’ve only being playing for England for a year, is an amazing feeling. I’m honoured.”