'He can't' - Kieran Trippier opens up on Newcastle United duo's England hopes

Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier has revealed the advice he has given two of his young team-mates that are hoping to join him in the senior England squad over the coming months.

The Magpies defender has firmly established himself as a firm favourite of Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate in recent years and has appeared at the last three major tournaments as England reached the semi-final of the World Cup in 2018 and the Euro 2020 Final. Despite competition from the likes of Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trippier is widely expected to be part of Southgate’s squad for this summer’s European Championships in Germany as England look to end their 49-year wait for success at a major tournament.

There has been talk Trippier’s Magpies team-mate Anthony Gordon could force his way into the reckoning after after helping England win last summer’s European Under-21s Championship and hitting form with Newcastle after he scored ten goals and provided seven assists in his first full season at St James Park.

Gordon will discover whether he has earned a place in the England squad for this month’s friendly double-header with Belgium and Brazil at 2pm on Thursday - but Trippier has insisted the former Everton winger should focus on continuing his form with Newcastle, rather than allow talk of a Three Lions call-up ‘play tricks on him’.

Speaking at the recent North East Football Writers Association awards, he said: “I had a really good chat with Anthony in the off-season before he went away for the Euros, just saying how big the tournament was for him and go have a break and come back because you need to hit the ground running. He’s certainly done that but he hasn’t got to worry about England. He can’t let that play tricks on him, he’s got to keep performing for Newcastle, he’s got to keep being consistent as he has been and his performances will do the talking. Hopefully, in March, he will get that call-up.”

Trippier also faces increased competition for his place at right-back in the Newcastle side after Tino Livramento impressed during his first season on Tyneside after the Chelsea academy graduate joined the Magpies in a £32m deal from Southampton last summer. There has speculation suggesting Livramento could be in line to step up from Under-21 level and earn a first senior call-up to the England squad - and Trippier fully expects that move to come in the not-too-distant future.

He said: “Tino, for such a young guy, he’s unbelievable. I’ve had lots of talks with Tino, trying to help him. I know he’s in my position but I don’t want to be selfish. He’s versatile, left-back, right-back, like myself and he will be unbelievable for Newcastle in the future and an England right-back as well, that’s how highly I rate him.”