The 'anti-Lamine' backed to be one of best in world
"He has got all the attributes to be one of the best left-backs in the world," the Newcastle United defender said of team-mate Lewis Hall. It was high praise before the second leg of Newcastle 's Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona. But the straight-talking Trippier is not one for hyperbole.
The former England international has instead witnessed Hall's progression from a raw player who could not even get into Newcastle 's starting XI to one who stood up to the almighty test of trying to keep Barcelona star Lamine Yamal quiet last week. Head coach Eddie Howe has, naturally, shied away from such proclamations and wanted to protect a left-back who is still only 21. But the Newcastle boss will not think twice about throwing Hall into the Nou Camp cauldron for the return fixture on Wednesday night.
"I'm very reluctant to build up any player after any game because you know you have to continually prove and give answers, especially if you're a defender," Howe said. "The challenge is a big one for him. This is going to be a really good test of Lewis' defensive skills, his experience and how much he has developed in the last couple of years.
Hall even grinned when asked about the prospect of facing Lamine Yamal for the first time on the eve of last week's 1-1 draw. Hall wanted to test himself against the best, and backed himself to handle the occasion. Lamine Yamal may have scored a 96th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot, but that did not tell the full story.
The gifted Barcelona forward failed to even dribble past Hall, and was ultimately restricted to just a single effort from open play from a tight angle. The Spaniard got so frustrated at one point that he cynically barged Hall over. No wonder Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo labelled Hall the "anti-Lamine".