Kieran Trippier believes pre-season coupled with ongoing hard work on the training ground has played a 'massive' role in Newcastle United's success so far this season. The Magpies booked their place in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley next month with a second-leg victory over Southampton on Tuesday night.
Eddie Howe's side have the chance to make history on Tyneside by ending the club's painful wait for a trophy, with either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest standing in their way. Newcastle have also emerged as unlikely top-four contenders, with the team sat third in the table having suffered just one league defeat so far.
It is all a far cry from the desperate battle for survival which Howe walked into when he was appointed in November 2021. Drastic improvements in a host of first-team stars coupled with a transfer spend in excess of £200 million has led to a sharp upturn in fortunes on and off the pitch for Newcastle.
