John Anderson has been talking about Kieran Trippier.
Last Sunday saw the England international start his final St James’ Park match for NUFC as Eddie Howe’s side won 3-1 against West Ham.
This Sunday afternoon sees Kieran Trippier set to make his very final Newcastle United appearances against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
John Anderson telling BBC Newcastle: “Kieran Trippier was a major coup four years ago, when you look at the position the club was in, it looked like they were staring relegation in the face. He was the first one that came in and you cannot exaggerate the impact he has made.”
It was quite amazing to see somebody willing to come into the middle of a desperate relegation fight, having only months earlier won La Liga with Atletico Madrid and starting for England in the 2020 Euros final (a tournament that had been delayed until 2021 due to Covid).
Eddie Howe had previously signed Kieran Trippier from Manchester City, when he was manager of Burnley.
That existing relationship with the now NUFC Head Coach was key to Kieran Trippier agreeing to come to Newcastle United.
John Anderson keen to point out the whole package that the England international brought to the club.
The former Newcastle United defender adding: “As Eddie Howe said, it isn’t just about how Kieran Trippier performs on the pitch, it is about his leadership qualities off the pitch as well. Captains and leaders wear armbands, but some players don’t need to wear armbands and he is one of them because he just leads. He pulls people about and he sorts people out. He is just one of those figures. When he is on the pitch, he pulls people into position, he tells people where to go, he isn’t afraid to have a go at people as well. Sometimes there isn’t enough of that. From that point of view, he will be a big miss. There is no doubt about that.”
An amazing four and a half years but now Kieran Trippier set to turn 36 in September and Wolves rumoured as set to be his next club.
John Anderson perfectly summing it all up though from the Newcastle United perspective: “After seeing what he has done in these past four years, you just wish he was 10 years younger.”