Newcastle United star starts on St James' Park farewell & fresh injury blow confirmed - XI v West Ham
Newcastle United host West Ham United in their final Premier League home of the campaign.
Kieran Trippier starts for Newcastle United on his farewell St James’ Park appearance.
The 54-capped England international announced last month that would be leaving the Magpies when his contract officially expires on June 30.
Trippier was the first signing of the PIF era when he joined from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, helping Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 56 years by winning the Carabao Cup last year as well as twice qualifying for the Champions League.
Kieran Trippier starts for NUFC on St James’ Park farewell
Wor Flags will pay tribute to the 35-year-old before kick-off as Eddie Howe’s side look to mark their final home game of the 2025-26 season with a win.
Speaking about Trippier ahead of the match, Howe said: “I think he's definitely deserving of that recognition. I think the actual decision to come here in the first place needs to be celebrated because he's gone from a team that was hugely successful in Spain into a team that's fighting relegation in the Premier League.
“Everyone said it was financially motivated initially and I can tell them it wasn't. I think a host of reasons and only Kieran can discuss those, but certainly financial wasn't one of them.
“The challenge of course, returning to the Premier League, hopefully Jason [Tindall] and I played a part in that with our relationship and wanting to take that fight on in his career position was probably a big risk, but he took it on and I'm so pleased for him that it was rewarded because there's no guarantee that that was going to be the case.
“So the team stayed up and of course then never looked back. It was strange because probably a lot of people forget that he got injured initially and didn't really contribute on the pitch as he would have wanted to initially in our fight against relegation.
“It was more the next season where he then played an unbelievable part in our run to the Champions League. We only lost, I think, it was four games that season. And he was pivotal with the rest of the back four that were magnificent that year and Nick Pope behind them that transformed our defensive output.
“That's probably my biggest memory of him. Then along with the cup final win where I thought he was magnificent that day. Absolutely gigantic performance and he got then the feeling of lifting the cup with Bruno [Guimaraes] and Jamaal [Lascelles].”
Newcastle United starting XI v West Ham United - no Joelinton
Howe has made three changes from last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, a result that all-but ended the Magpies’ European qualification hopes.
Trippier comes in for Dan Burn and starts at right-back as Lewis Hall moves back to over left-back, while Jacob Ramsey and Harvey Barnes come in for Joelinton, who Howe confirmed was a doubt for the game due to a thigh injury, and Jacob Murphy.
Newcastle have little to play for but pride. West Ham, however, have everything to play for with their Premier League status on the line.
Anything less than a win at St James' Park this afternoon would see them relegated ahead of the final day - if Tottenham Hotspur win at Chelsea in midweek.
The Hammers are two points adrift of Spurs, who have a significantly better goal difference.
Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Malick Thiaw, Will Osula, Nick Woltemade, Bruno Guimarães (c), Jacob Ramsey
Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Dan Burn, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave