Kieran Trippier now has vital job in lifting Newcastle squad after cup defeat

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The Newcastle United squad must be extremely flat right now, and Kieran Trippier has a huge role in lifting the mood.

Trippier captained the Magpies at Wembley on Sunday, as Newcastle lost the 2023 Carabao Cup final 2-0 to Manchester United.

It was a disappointing end to an incredible weekend for Toon fans, who watched their team play in a final for the first time since 1999.

The heartache of Wembley will take a while to shake off, but Eddie Howe’s side do not have long to feel sorry for themselves. We are back in action on Saturday lunchtime, as Newcastle face Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Getting up for this game is going to be a big ask, especially given our recent form. Away from the agony of the Carabao Cup, we haven’t won a Premier League game since January 15th.

Our form isn’t great and the players will be deflated. That is a dangerous combination ahead of a game against a Pep Guardiola side.

Newcastle need players like Kieran Trippier to give the team a lift

Playing in a final was a new experience for a lot of Eddie Howe’s players. It ended in defeat, which will have been heartbreaking – especially for the local lads to whom it means so much more.

But Howe will now look to lean on his experienced players to lift the mood in the camp. And a key player will be Kieran Trippier.

Not only is the 32-year-old the captain when Jamaal Lascelles doesn’t play, but he has experience of losing on such a grand stage.

2018 World Cup semi final with England, 2019 Champions League final with Tottenham, 2021 Euros final with England. Trippier played in all of those games and ended up on the losing side.

That will have been tough for the defender to take, but he will have learnt from those experiences. And hopefully his experience can help him lift the mood among the players and refocus minds ahead of the rest of the season.