Newcastle United have got some amazing people on and off the pitch, and in Kieran Trippier they have both.
Eddie Howe has been full of praise for the Newcastle United defender, as he prepares to take his team to the capital to face Arsenal.
Kieran Trippier will be involved, and will likely captain the Magpies. That is because Fabian Schar is fit, meaning Jamaal Lascelles will not be required to come into the side.
Trippier will lead the team out, and will hope to continue his rich vein of form. He has got four goal contributions in Newcastle’s previous four games, including three assists.
The 33-year-old now has 10 Premier League assists this season, which puts him joint-top with Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.
It is an incredible achievement, and one that Eddie Howe has praised him for. However, he has also praised him for his work away from the pitch.
Eddie Howe delighted with Kieran Trippier right now
Ahead of Newcastle’s game against Arsenal, Howe has been speaking to the media. He was asked about Trippier having the highest number of assists in the Premier League so far this season.
“It is a brilliant stat for a full-back,” he said.
“He is a guy who will play a lot of creative passes before a goal happens.
“He has been fundamental to how we work – his leadership skills behind-the-scenes have been second to none.”
Kieran Trippier enjoying a strong season despite December dip
While he did endure a dip during December, Trippier is still having a strong season overall. His numbers in the final third are outstanding, with 11 assists in all competitions.
The right-back continues to be an offensive force from deep, while his role as a leader behind the scenes cannot be understated.
That is probably the most important thing for Howe, who will be absolutely delighted that the club were able to fend off interest from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window. It looked for all the world that Trippier was going to leave, but Newcastle stood firm.
Now they are reaping the rewards, and will hope to continue doing so until the end of the season.
As Howe says, Trippier is fundamental to Newcastle United, both on and off the pitch.
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