Kieran Trippier now says how he really feels about playing out of position for England

Newcastle United captain Kieran Trippier was substituted by Gareth Southgate last night in the dismal 0-0 draw with Slovenia amid injury concerns.

The 33-year-old had been nursing a calf injury going into the game and was a doubt to start at one point, but he shook it off and took up his role at left-back as he so often does for Gareth Southgate.

Naturally a right-back, Trippier is aware that he is unlikely to get in the side ahead of Kyle Walker so offers his services on the other flank while crocked Luke Shaw has a nice little holiday in Germany.

Whether it's down to playing out of position, the supposed knock he's carrying, being part of whatever this England side are doing or something else, the Newcastle man looked way off his best last night for the Three Lions and despite one excellent cross, looked like the Trippier we saw at Newcastle in December.

There's a strong belief that Trippier may be a bit distracted

There are rumours abound on social media and in the tabloids about Trippier which are akin to those that were circulating in December when Trippier's form took a nosedive which won't be helping the situation.

But in fairness to our skipper, he's by far the only player seemingly struggling in this England system, and while playing out of position is less than idea, it's not something that's new to him and he has told ITV he doesn't mind as injury analyst Ben Dinnery shared the quotes from Trippier on X addressing his desire to play.

"No, I'm OK. It's just obviously I've been out for a long time, played consecutive games. But I can't complain; I'm playing for my country,. I'm happy to be here, I'm happy to play my part, left-back, all I can do is do my best."

Trippier is up against it in this England set up

It can't be easy for Trippier not only playing on the wrong side, making it harder for him to whip in his trademark crosses first time, but when his support on that flank is non-existent there's not much he can do.

Phil Foden starts out on that left but roams all around the pitch and even when he is out wide, he doesn't make himself available in the same way a winger would which is why everyone is imploring Gareth Southgate to push Foden back into the middle and play an actual winger, like Anthony Gordon, out wide.

It sounds as though Trippier will be fit for Sunday's first knock-out game, and may still be ahead of Luke Shaw in terms of fitness so we'll likely see him start again. Now we just need to find out who our opponents will be.