Eddie Howe praises 'unbelievable leader' amid questions over Newcastle United future
There has arguably not been a more important signing for Newcastle United since Alan Shearer than that of Kieran Trippier.
Kieran Trippier was the first player to join the Toon revolution after the takeover. His arrival from Atletico Madrid was seen as a huge statement of intent from the new owners and Eddie Howe, and it made other players look at our project and think about joining.
Without Trippier, we'd probably have no Bruno Guimaraes, no Sven Botman, no A*******r I**k.
Trippier bought into the club's vision immediately and became an instant leader on and off the pitch. Even when he was injured, he was on the sidelines with his crutches and moon boot supporting the lads.
Eddie Howe hails Kieran Trippier's athleticism after a top performance in the Champions League
Now 35 and out of contract at the end of the season, the future is unclear for the former England international, but listening to how Eddie Howe talked about him in this morning's press conference, we get the feeling his journey may not be over just yet.
"He's come back in and done really well. Kieran is an unbelievable leader behind the scenes for us, such a steadying, calming influence. He's got a lot of experience, he's a great communicator with the players.
"He's done really well, especially on Wednesday night when he was excellent athletically. Technically very good, which has been the hallmark of his game since he's been here."
Kieran Trippier created a magic moment on Wednesday night
There was a period last season where Trippier looked finished. He had off-field problems that were clearly affecting his performances, but since he's sorted himself out, he's rolled back the years.
How much longer he can go at the top level, we're not sure, but he looked good on Wednesday night and is still definitely useful to the team.
Our thing is that he seems crucial to the team behind the scenes. His decision to hand Lewis Miley the armband on Wednesday night just shows how clued in he is; he knew what that would do for Miley, the team and the fans.
He may be coming ot the end of his playing career, but we'd love him to stay on with the club beyond that.
