Trippier ‘not injured’ despite early exit in Newcastle’s friendly at MCG
NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has allayed any fears that England defender Kieran Trippier picked up an injury during the club’s end-of-season friendly with Tottenham in Australia.
Trippier, who had started the game in front of a crowd of 78,419 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, lasted just 37 minutes before he was replaced by Jacob Murphy after apparently taking a kick on his ankle.
However, Howe later confirmed that the full-back’s withdrawal was pre-planned as he works his way back to full match fitness ahead of Euro 2024.
He told reporters: “No that was all planned. We spoke to Kieran and thought the best thing to do was start him. He is still in the early stages of recovery so we didn’t want to take risks with him. Half-an-hour was always the aim. He did well and is not injured. Let’s see how he feels on Friday. We have to make sure we treat him well at the early stages.”
Trippier, who was named in
Gareth Southgate’s 33-man training squad on Tuesday, had previously made just three appearances for his club since the beginning of March after being sidelined by a calf injury.
Southgate will have to reduce the party to 26 by June 7 and the 33-yearold, who has featured in England’s last three major tournaments, will hope to win a seat on the plane.
He looked on from the sidelines in Melbourne as the game finished 1-1 after Alexander Isak had cancelled out James Maddison’s opener with both managers having changed their entire starting XIs.
The Magpies eventually prevailed 5-4 on penalties with youngsters Joe White, Ben Parkinson, Amadou Diallo, Garang Kuol and Harrison Ashby all scoring from the spot after substitute keeper Mark Gillespie had saved Bryan Gil’s opening attempt.
Howe and his players will now start preparations for Friday’s fixture against an A-League All Stars team.
Elsewhere, John O’Shea could yet land the Republic of Ireland manager’s job on a permanent basis.
The Football Association of Ireland’s interim chief executive David Courell confirmed the 43-year-old former Manchester United and Ireland defender – who has been placed in temporary charge for next month’s friendlies against Hungary and Portugal having performed a similar role in
March – was in the running to replace Stephen Kenny.
O’Shea appeared to have been ruled out of the race when the FAI director of football Marc Canham revealed in March that “existing contractual obligations” were delaying an appointment.
Yesterday, Courell said of the 118-times-capped international’s prospects: “It is an open process. Every candidate is being considered.
“John has done a fantastic job and we’re looking forward to what he can do in the upcoming fixtures.
“He is an unbelievable ambassador for the game, a fantastic servant for Irish football, so we wish him the best of luck for June and see what transpires in the rest of the recruitment process.”