When Kieran Trippier arrived at Newcastle in January, critics accused him of lacking ambition.
The new owners’ long-term vision was clear and the financial incentives were impressive. But the club was 19th in the table and#, with mere survival the immediate priority, the path towards becoming top-four contenders looked a long one.
Except heading into their final game of 2022, against Leeds on Saturday, Eddie Howe’s side find themselves in second spot after six wins on the bounce with Trippier, wearing the captain’s armband, marshalling the division’s tightest defence.
