Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson will not be involved against Paris Saint-Germain tonight, but has ‘confidence’ that one of his teammates will shine in the Champions League.
Despite featuring in training on Tuesday, Wilson has since confirmed that he will not be fit for the game against PSG. That is a real shame for the 31-year-old, who has started the season with four goals.
But one Newcastle player who is fit for tonight’s Champions League clash is Kieran Trippier, and he looks set for a very busy evening.
The 33-year-old will likely come up against PSG‘s biggest threat, Kylian Mbappe. The World Cup winner is in town for the game against the Magpies, and has been getting acclimatised to the Tyneside weather.
All eyes will be on Mbappe, and it is Trippier who will be tasked with stopping him.
It is an unenviable job for the Newcastle defender, but Wilson is confident that his teammate will deliver and produce a good performance.
Callum Wilson is confident Trippier can stop Mbappe in the Champions League
Speaking on the latest episode of the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Wilson discussed how Trippier is feeling about facing Mbappe in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
“Tripps has been playing in the Champions League for years,” he said.
“He’s an England international. A top right-back. Can play left-back. He’s a laidback, chilled character off the pitch. So on the pitch, I’m sure he’s going to be the same.
“Nothing really changes. It just probably has that little bit more concentration. He’ll have a tactic for playing against quick, elite players like Mbappe.
“He’s been at Atletico, Tottenham. He’d have played against top teams before and top players before.
“I have confidence in him. Players like that [like Mbappe], you have to double up on, don’t you? You can’t just leave a one-v-one situation. So hopefully he’s not too isolated out there on his own.”
Newcastle star under pressure to perform
There is a lot of pressure on Trippier to perform. Mbappe is the dangerman, and Trippier will be his direct opponent.
But the England international will not be overawed by the enormity of the task at hand. He has faced elite wingers in the past and came out on top.
He has already done it in the Champions League this season. Rafael Leao was AC Milan’s big hope last month, but he ended up having a very poor game. Trippier did a solid job, using all of his experience to come out on top.
Trippier will have to do that again tonight, up against an even more talented player – arguably the most talented on the planet right now.
Good luck, Kieran…
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