Southampton star agrees with Jordan Pickford over Newcastle United St James' Park claim
Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters has named St James’ Park as his favourite away stadium to play at.
The 27-year-old actually made his Premier League debut at St James’ when started at right-back for Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 win over Newcastle in August 2017.
Walker-Peters other four visits to Tyneside have all come with Southampton, who he initially joined on loan in January 2022 before completing a permanent £12million move the following summer.
But there is one trip in particular that sticks out, and that is United’s Carabao Cup semi-final victory over the Saints last year.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg at St Mary’s, Eddie Howe’s side went on to book their place at Wembley in front of their own supporters on a night where local lad Sean Longstaff scored both goals.
It was the first cup final Newcastle had reached for 24 years. And that atmosphere at St James’ that night still lives with Walker-Peters now.
“St James’ Park is, yeah, unbelievable,” the full-back told Sky Sports. “The atmosphere is great, the pitch is always good. I remember playing two seasons ago in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and the atmosphere was like nothing I’ve experienced before.”
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Walker-Peters isn’t the only opposition player to praise the St James’ Park atmosphere.
Speaking earlier this year, Sunderland-born Jordan Pickford said: “I know I get a lot of stick at St James' Park! But I know the atmosphere is always rocking.”
Meanwhile, summer transfer target Marc Guehi revealed: “Schalke’s stadium was very good. I’d say, in the Prem, probably Newcastle. St James’ Park is just really, really loud in there, the fans make it really difficult when you go there so yeah, probably St James’ Park.