Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has named both Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier in his Premier League Team of the Season. The club's all-time top goalscorer has also selected Eddie Howe as the manager for this dream eleven, hailing the head coach's superb achievement for leading the Magpies back into the Champions League.
Newcastle conceded the joint-fewest goals in the Premier League alongside champions Manchester City, while also losing just five times like Pep Guardiola's side. Pope and Trippier have unsurprisingly been selected as the Magpies' representatives as a result, joining Pervis Estupinan, William Saliba and John Stones in the backline.
Shearer named Manchester City midfielder Rodri as the anchor in his eleven, with club team-mate Kevin de Bruyne joining Martin Odegaard and Marcus Rashford in an attacking midfield trio. England captain Harry Kane partners Erling Haaland up front, with the latter setting a new league record with his return of 36 goals in his debut Premier League season.
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Explaining his selections, Shearer said of Pope: “He’s played behind a really mean defence, but when teams have got through that defence, he’s barely put a foot wrong all season.
The Premier League's record goalscorer then explained his Trippier pick, adding: “He’s skippered Newcastle to an incredible season. Hardly let anyone down and gave magnificent performances week after week.”
Howe may have missed out on the division's managerial honour earlier this week, with Guardiola again receiving the manager of the season award. However, Shearer believes Newcastle's head coach deserved the accolade on the account of smart recruitment and the drastic improvement of several first-team stars.
Shearer wrote: “For him to have taken Newcastle into the top four, and back to the Champions League, has been superb. Not only has he brought players in and improved them, but he's also done the same with the players that were already there. What a job he’s done!”
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