Eddie Howe has admitted that Kieran Trippier's elite experience has been a 'big thing' for high-flying Newcastle United as players and staff find themselves in uncharted territory.
Trippier and his team-mates talked about doing 'something special' at the start of the season and Newcastle supporters are rightly daring to dream as we approach the halfway point of the campaign. Newcastle are flying in third place and Man City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp are among those leading figures in the game who believe the Magpies are genuine contenders.
Newcastle have blocked out the noise, however, and Trippier has led the way in that regard as one of the few figures in the dressing room with priceless experience of being in such a lofty position in a major league both with Atletico Madrid and Spurs. Indeed, following the 3-0 win at Leicester City on Boxing Day, it was Trippier, a La Liga title winner, who was talking about 'keeping our feet on the ground' and 'taking a game at a time'.
