Kieran Trippier says that the Newcastle United dressing room has a policy where players must leave their egos at home and focus on team ethic.
Trippier likened the in-house policy to the New Zealand All Blacks' ’no d***heads' rule which bans any squad member putting their own needs ahead of the club. It is a system that has served Newcastle well as they sit in a European position going into the international break.
Trippier told Chronicle Live after the win over Nottingham Forest: "This is probably one of the best groups I've ever been in. The togetherness, no egos, a real hard-working team and that comes from the manager.
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"He demands a lot on and off the pitch and I think you've seen that all through the season. We're as fit as a fiddle as a team and we keep going to the death. The lads will give everything."
When asked if the dressing room's code of conduct was similar to the All Blacks, Trippier said: "If you want to be successful as a team you all need to be on board. You all need to sometimes accept if the manager wants to mix it up a bit and change players that's no fault of performing badly.
"It's just to get fresh legs because the way the manager wants us to play is demanding, it's hard work. Sometimes you need to pull yourself out - look at Miggy, he scored the other day. It's not a punishment he wants to mix it up a bit.
"You look at Jacob Murphy, you look at Matt Ritchie who deserves huge credit because of the way he works behind the scenes, which nobody sees. He's a top professional and he came on today and did a job today so he deserves huge credit as well."
Howe made some bold calls before the Wolves game when leaving Miguel Almiron on the bench with Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles also named subs in recent games.
Trippier wanted to make it clear these players have not been dropped. Trippier said: "I wouldn't say dropped. Rested? Yeah. You need that if you want to be successful as a team you all need to be on board.
"You all need to sometimes accept if the manager wants to mix it up a bit and change players that's no fault of performing badly."
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