Trippier 'deserving of recognition' on Sunday - Howe
Kieran Trippier's impressive Newcastle career is coming to an end and Sunday will be his final match at St James' Park. The right-back, who joined from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, is widely considered as one of the club's most important signings after playing a crucial role in their resurgence under Eddie Howe. "He's definitely deserving of the recognition," said Howe.
[Getty Images] Kieran Trippier's impressive Newcastle career is coming to an end and Sunday will be his final match at St James' Park. The right-back, who joined from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, is widely considered as one of the club's most important signings after playing a crucial role in their resurgence under Eddie Howe. And for that reason, supporters are set to give the 35-year-old a proper farewell against West Ham in the final home game of the season.
"He's definitely deserving of the recognition," said Howe. "His actual decision to come here in the first place needs to be celebrated because he came from a team that was hugely successful in Spain to a team under renovation in the Premier League. "Everyone said it was financially motivated initially, but I can tell you it wasn't.
It was a host of reasons – only he can discuss them – but financial certainly wasn't one of them. "He wanted to take the fight on, and I'm so pleased for him that it was rewarded. We stayed up and he's never looked back.
"The next season he played an unbelievable part in our run for the Champions League and was pivotal in the magnificent back four we had that year. "That's probably my biggest memory of him, other than Carabao Cup final day when I thought he was magnificent. "It was a gigantic performance, and he got the feeling of lifting the cup with Bruno Guimaraes and Jamaal Lascelles.