TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
Kieran: Incredible Howe deserves a Champions League stage
BY
NEWCASTLE skipper Kieran Trippier says Toon manager Eddie Howe deserves the chance to test himself in the Champions League.
Trippier is taking nothing for granted about his club’s top-four chances – despite Newcastle being eight points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham, with a game in hand.
But qualification would be a triumph for Howe – and England international Trippier is backing his gaffer to compete against anyone among Europe’s elite.
“I’ve known the manager for a long time and I know what he demands, on and off the pitch,” said Trippier, who first worked with Howe at Burnley over a decade ago.
“You only need to look at the players in the group before the takeover and how he has improved them and all of us.
“He’s done incredibly well for everyone at the club.
“Eddie has worked hard – Bournemouth, Burnley and back to Bournemouth.
“He’s also had time out to reflect on everything, and I spent some good time with him in Madrid when he was there watching different clubs around Europe and how they work.
“He has taken this chance at Newcastle with both hands – and he deserves a lot of credit.
“The boys love him. The gaffer is an incredible man-manager.”
Howe and his players have restored pride in the football-mad city on the banks of the Tyne.
Trippier had no hesitation in reuniting himself with Howe in the North East when Newcastle met Atletico Madrid’s £12million asking price in January 2022.
The Saudi Arabian buyout of
Toon owner Mike Ashley had been completed only three months earlier and Trippier admits that this season’s fight for the top four has surprised him.
The defender said: “Even when I signed, Newcastle were still not in a good moment and I didn’t think that we would progress so fast.
“I’d have no regrets about signing for the club anyway because I believed in the decision when I made it and I never look back. But you don’t realise how big Newcastle are unless you play for them.
“I am always trying to get into people’s ears to tell them how good the support is. The fans pay their well-earned money to come and watch us and we take time to appreciate their backing.
“They went through a tough few years and it’s great that they have started to believe again.”
Bottom club Southampton now travel to St James’ Park and it would be a shock if Newcastle failed to tick off another win.
But Trippier warned: “We are not looking at how many wins we need. I’ve spoken to the lads about it. That’s not what we focus on. We must focus on our next game.
“Every game is a final and Southampton are next. They played really well against Arsenal last week and you have to respect the opposition.
“We are both fighting for very different reasons, so we know it’s going to be a difficult game.”