'You just wish he was 10 years younger' - Anderson on departing Trippier
Former Newcastle United defender John Anderson says Kieran Trippier's impact and importance to the Magpies since signing for the club in January 2022 "cannot be exaggerated". The right-back, who is set to leave St James' Park when his contract expires at the end of the season, joined the Magpies when they were in the relegation zone and has played a big role in the rebuild under Eddie Howe. "He was a major coup four years ago," said Anderson on BBC Radio Newcastle.
"When you look at the position the club was in, it looked like they were staring relegation in the face. "He was the first one that came in and you cannot exaggerate the impact he has made. "As Eddie Howe said, it isn't just about how he performs on the pitch, it is about his leadership qualities off the pitch as well.
"Captains and leaders wear armbands, but some players don't need to wear armbands and he is one of them because he just leads. He pulls people about and he sorts people out. He is just one of those figures.
"When he is on the pitch, he pulls people into position, he tells people where to go, he isn't afraid to have a go at people as well. Sometimes there isn't enough of that. "From that point of view, he will be a big miss.
There is no doubt about that. "After seeing what he has done in these past four years, you just wish he was 10 years younger. " Listen to the full conversation above or catch up on BBC Sounds