'The next captain of Newcastle' - Eddie Howe tipped to make huge summer decision

Newcastle United journalist John Gibson believes that Kieran Trippier will become the next captain of the club.

Having signed for Newcastle United during the early stages of the January transfer window, the England defender has certainly begun to make a major impact on Eddie Howe’s side.

He already leads the team in terms of tackles made per game with 4.3, interceptions per game with 2.7, key passes per game with 2 and average passes per game with 41 (via WhoScored). He’s also managed to bag his first goal for the club with an impressive free-kick during this week’s victory over Everton.

And his impact appears to have left an impression on some, as speaking on NUFC Matters, Gibson felt that it was obvious that he will take the captain’s armband on at some point, although he did seem to think that the transition wouldn’t properly take place until the summer:

“He’s a natural leader, Trippier. And he’s inevitably the next captain of Newcastle United, whenever that happens. And I certainly think Howe will probably leave it to happen in the summer.

“Don’t kill [Jamaal] Lascelles like a humiliation of taking the captaincy off him and ask him to play the next week and save your side at centre-half. I think he’ll leave it until the summer when, if you remember, was the time you make the big decisions.”

TIF Thoughts on John Gibson’s comments about Kieran Trippier and Newcastle United

Given the impact that he has made since joining the club, you can certainly see why people on the outside might think that he would be the ideal candidate to take the armband at St James’ Park.

And it’s a role that Trippier himself appears to be preparing for, as he mentioned during a recent interview with The Athletic: “If the other players see me