Former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton has hailed Kieran Trippier after his phenomenal display against Everton.
The full-back truly announced his arrival at the club, scoring a superb free-kick late on in the game to ensure all three points.
It was only Trippier’s fourth game for the club.
But so far, the 31-year-old has been a breath of fresh air.
His signing, reported to have cost around £12 million initially (BBC Sport), looked like great business at the time. But his first handful of performances have been seriously encouraging.
Given what’s at stake for Newcastle, officials must be delighted with what he has shown so far.
Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle’s Total Sport show earlier, ex-Magpie Barton raved about the former Atletico Madrid star.
He said at 6.20pm: “He’s been excellent. He’s come from Atletico Madrid, having played under one of the most astute coaches for a couple of years. He’s won a title in a league that’s dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“To come in and perform the way he has, it speaks volumes of his character.
“He’s got undoubted quality with his free-kicks. And not only is he a good player, he’s versatile. He can play full-back, wing-back, on the left side or the right side. But also, he’s deadly from set-pieces.
“He’s a proper player. A top-class player. And it’s a bonus what he can do off the field.”
Kieran Trippier already looking like incredible business by Newcastle, as Warren Barton sings England star’s praises
Newcastle fans could not really have asked for a better start from the club’s first post-takeover signing.
He has not put a foot wrong yet, and shown his class at every turn.
Quite possibly, his signing might well prove to be the most significant the new owners will make.
If he is able to sustain this kind of level through until the end of the campaign, while showing the leadership he has, Newcastle stand a fantastic chance of retaining their Premier League status.
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