THEGOER? Howe: Take Trippier to Qatar
Simon Bird
GARETH SOUTHGATE has been assured that Kieran Trippier is the answer to his World Cup right-back injury crisis.
The England boss has Kyle Walker recovering from surgery, saw Reece James limp off on Tuesday night against AC Milan, and Trent Alexander-arnold has an ankle injury.
Newcastle right-back Trippier could end up as England’s last man standing in the position if he stays fit ahead of next month’s kick-off in Qatar. Southgate has chosen Trippier in recent squads believing he is a “warrior” and Toon boss Eddie Howe has backed his on-field leader to be ready for battle. Newcastle visit Manchester United today, and Howe said: “Kieran’s been incredible. “Even last year, in the brief time he played, he made a massive impact, both on the pitch and off it, in terms of his leadership.
“We’re seeing more of him because he’s been fitter for longer. Just look at the first goal we scored against Brentford, which is always a gamechanger. It was his cross from the short corner, and it gets underestimated how difficult that skill is, to put it exactly where Bruno Guimaraes needs it to be to score.
“It was an incredible highlight of Keiran’s technical quality. But also his defending is of a very good level – I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Trippier was the ground-zero signing for the new Saudi regime, which set the tone for their £210million rebuild. The defender did have interest from Manchester United 12 months ago, but ended up leaving Atletico Madrid for Tyneside.
Howe said: “It wasn’t necessarily our intention to make our first signing a ‘statement’ – but I do see it as a good thing, looking back, that it was Kieran, because it helped us with what followed.
“Players look at the calibre of player you’re signing and think, ‘If he wants to come, it must be a good environment’.”
There will also be a battle of the Brunos at Old Trafford, with Guimaraes going head to head with Bruno Fernandes.
Howe added: “Both are technically very good. Maybe Fernandes plays a little bit higher up the pitch, but our Bruno can do that, and has the versatility of playing deeper. They are two great technicians.
“Our Bruno has a drive to win the ball back as well. That comes down to his passion to win, and a very aggressive instinct. But he is also capable of delivering a pass no one else on the pitch could even see.”