Nedum Onuoha now hails major decision the Newcastle owners made last month

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Newcastle United are going to have a strong second half of the season, and Nedum Onuoha thinks it will be because of one man.

The January transfer window was very strange for Newcastle United. It was clear that the club wanted to make a major signing as they targeted players like Amadou Onana, while there was also speculation that a big name could leave.

In the end, 18-year-old Alfie Harrison was the only recruit, while Javi Manquillo was the biggest departure from St James’ Park.

The January transfer window never burst into life at Newcastle, but it did threaten to. However, it also threatened to unravel when there was talk of Kieran Trippier leaving the club.

He was a target for Bayern Munich, who made multiple bids to sign the 33-year-old. There were claims that he fancied the move to Germany, but Newcastle stood firm and retained one of their key leaders.

The transfer window ended with Trippier still as a Newcastle United player, and Nedum Onuoha believes that keeping the right-back is going to have a huge impact on the rest of the season.

Kieran Trippier staying is going to make a big difference at Newcastle

Onuoha has been speaking about Newcastle on the Football News Show, and he commented on the likes of Trippier and Miguel Almiron not being sold.

“These are significant players for Newcastle,” he said.

“When you look at Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron, who has been very good for them for the last couple of seasons, you do want to find that level of continuity.

“They know they’ve underperformed this season, but what chances would they have in the second half of the season if key players were to go as well?

“Trippier understands the city and the football club. I think they are going to have a big second half to the season and him staying makes a big difference.

“Him coming to Newcastle was about him wanting to come back to England as well. He’s played abroad for Atletico Madrid and he did very well for them. Bayern Munich are obviously the juggernaut and one of the biggest teams in European football.

“Maybe his priorities are a bit different at this stage because if they weren’t, I think we would probably have seen him push for a move.”

Selling Trippier would have been a huge risk

Newcastle were right to keep Trippier. The only way they could have justified selling him was if Bayern made a stupid offer.

The Magpies wanted £20million, which is way more than he is worth. Bayern would not go that high, which is why we are where we are today.

It feels like it could be a definitive moment in our season. Trippier is simply too important to Newcastle, and selling him could have gone one of two ways.

Either Tino Livramento would have stepped up, or the club would have struggled without one of its leaders and most influential figures on and off the pitch.

While it has been a tough couple of months, this could still be a really good season for Newcastle United, and Trippier is almost certain to play a key role in any success we enjoy.