Eddie Howe loved what 'incredible player' did straight after signing for Newcastle United - he's now a legend
Kieran Trippier gained plaudits from Newcastle United supporters as he stood up and issued an apology following the Brentford defeat.
Kieran Trippier was the first Newcastle United player to go over and applaud the 1,700 travelling supporters at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.
The 35-year-old also spoke out in the mixed zone at Brentford after the 3-1 defeat with a defiant message to the fans.
“The supporters have travelled so far and we understand that and we apologise for that, but maybe the break has come at the right time,” he said. “Who knows? But yes, we've been in this situation before and for sure we'll bounce back 100% and that is without a doubt.”
He added: “All we can do is, and the most important thing is stick together because as I said in the dressing room after the game before, I've never been in a better group.
“We'll come through. It's about clicking and it will happen. Maybe as I said before, the break has come at the right time for us as players and as a team.”
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A transformative signing for NUFC
Trippier was the first player signed by Eddie Howe as Newcastle United manager back in January 2022. Since then, the right-back has gone on to make 136 appearances for the club, scoring four goals. Along with helping the club qualify for the Champions League twice in three season, he also lifted the Carabao Cup in March alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Jamaal Lascelles after the club ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought.
While there are understandable concerns about Newcastle’s form and consistency in the Premier League this season, Howe couldn’t help but praise Trippier for the impact he’s had since joining the club.
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Eddie Howe praises ‘incredible’ Kieran Trippier
Trippier joined Newcastle from Atletico Madrid for £12million shortly after Howe’s arrival as head coach. Reflecting on his past four years at St James’ Park, Howe was asked whether Trippier is one of the best ‘pound-for-pound’ signings he has made.
“Yes, I think he is,” Howe admitted. “An incredible player, an incredible leader as well. I always go back to the first couple of days when he came in. He spoke to the players his first day before training and it was really powerful.
“Of course, then we lost against Cambridge [in the FA Cup] a couple of days later, so that didn't go too well.
“But in all seriousness, he's a really talented player. Some of his passing, his range of pass, his composure on the ball are absolutely exceptional. He is one of the best crossers off a football I have ever seen and he's defended very well too.
“He gives us added dimensions with his leadership as well, so he's an important player. We obviously need to look after him, we need to keep him fit and fresh and able to do what he does.”
Trippier is understood to be out of contract at the end of the season and has had no shortage of transfer interest during his time at the club. Newcastle previously rejected a £13million bid from Bayern Munich for the full-back in January 2024.
There has also been interest from the Saudi Pro League, while Ligue 1 side Monaco held conversations regarding a potential transfer over the summer.
But Howe has always been keen to keep hold of Trippier, given his impact both on and off the pitch. The Magpies boss instantly identified the former England international as a potential signing for Newcastle having worked with him previously at Burnley.
“Straight away,” Howe said when asked how quickly he identified Trippier as a potential signing. “It was a strange one because we’d gone to visit Kieran at Atletico maybe a month before we came here [to Newcastle], but with absolutely no idea that we would end up at a Premier League club.
“We had no idea of our next destination – I'm talking me and Jason [Tindall] here – at that stage, we had no idea where we would be and what timeline it would be, it was just a visit to see him and watch Atletico train.