Kieran Trippier says that Newcastle United players did not spend much time talking about the need for a new training facility at Benton during last season's battle against the drop.
Where once the facilities were used as an excuse, with Graeme Souness infamously marching his squad down to Little Benton to train at the Academy, the mentality of the current squad is refreshingly different. And regardless of upgrades at the current training ground, Trippoer and co prefer to focus on things on the field.
The Toon squad will return to a redeveloped training ground with construction well under way for players to return to a new improved environment in North Tyneside. The revamped training centre will include new changing rooms, wet areas and ancillary facilities as well as physio and sports science rooms.
But England star Trippier has indicated the United squad were only ever honed in on one thing - survival. Trippier said: "To be honest, we hadn’t really spoken about it, the games were coming thick and fast but I’m sure the club and the manager will speak to us.
"We hadn’t seen any plans, we were just focusing on the games and training at the time. It's always nice if it is happening and it will be good for everybody, the fans, the players, the staff because it's another step in the right direction."
Newcastle finished the season in 11th place and ended their campaign in form that would have been good enough to win a place in Europe. Despite enjoying those results, Trippier, who has twice played for his country since the season finished, reflected: "It has been fantastic but it’s a long season for us players.
"We turned a big corner since January but this is only the first step, we need to enjoy our break and come back in pre-season ready to go again."
