Newcastle United star hailed as ‘the real deal’ ahead of World Cup announcement

Danny Mills has pointed to Kieran Trippier’s experience and consistency as key reasons why the Newcastle United defender should play a key role in England’s bid for success at the World Cup Finals.

Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate is expected to announce his initial preliminary squad by the end of this week before whittling down his selection to 26 players just a week before the tournament gets underway next month.

Much of the recent discussion has surrounded recent injuries to right-backs Kyle Walker, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold - although the latter of that trio made his comeback as a substitute in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City last weekend.  Trippier has been widely expected to be named in Southgate’s squad and has seen his chances of earning a starting place boosted by the injuries suffered by a number of his rivals.

But former England defender Mills has insisted the Magpies defender has already shown why he should be viewed as a key player by Southgate as he looks to shake off a poor run of form from his side heading into the tournament.

He told Sky Sports: “He’s always looked the real deal for me.  He went to La Liga and won the league, there’s not too many English players would have done that.  That would have brought his development on, working with (Diego) Simeone.  I don’t remember Trippier ever having a bad spell  where we say he’s gone or he’s off it completely.

“He’s always very steady, very solid, his delivery is exceptional, that’s why he was in the England team in 2018 and played as a wing-back.  We saw what he did in the semi-final.  He’s always been a top player but now he has experience, he has leadership, he’s my second choice right-back if you’re playing a back four, he was behind Kyle Walker.

“He can play left-back, he can play as a three, if I was Gareth Southgate I would be up in Newcastle wrapping him up in cotton wool.  Suddenly we’ve gone from four right-backs two weeks ago to one.  He’s just got to hope and pray he stays fit for the next two to three weeks.”

England kick off their tournament with a game against Iran on Monday 21st November.