Eddie Howe sure ‘incredible’ Kieran Trippier is right man for key England role

England will be in safe hands if they head for the World Cup finals with Kieran Trippier as their first-choice right-back.

That is the view of Trippier’s Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe after his chances of working his way into Gareth Southgate’s starting XI were boosted by injuries to competitors Reece James, Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Chelsea’s James is to see a specialist this weekend over the knee injury he suffered during Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League win at AC Milan amid fears he could miss the tournament, while Manchester City’s Walker is recovering from groin surgery and Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold is nursing an ankle problem.

Asked if England would be in safe hands in Qatar if Trippier was the man in possession, Howe said: “Absolutely. Just look at his performances this year, he’s been incredible.

“Even last year, in the brief time he played, he made a massive impact, both on the pitch and off it, in terms of his leadership. He has continued to do the same and we’re seeing more of him because he’s been fitter for longer.

“Just look at the first goal we scored against Brentford, which is always a gamechanger. It was his cross from the short corner, and it can really be underestimated how difficult that skill is, to put it exactly where Bruno (Guimaraes) needed it to be to score.

“It was an incredible highlight of his technical quality. But also his defending is of a very good level and I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Trippier found himself at the centre of a raging debate last month after Southgate had elevated him above Alexander-Arnold in his pecking order, although he did not make it off the bench for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany.

His form for Newcastle since his