Trippier's powerful Newcastle message that caused Arsenal and Man Utd agony
Newcastle star Kieran Trippier has opened up on how he urged team-mate Anthony Gordon to focus on his club form after an "important" summer in England colours.
Gordon has been in fine form for the Magpies this season, scoring winning goals in victories over Arsenal and Manchester United. The winger's recent form is in contrast to the challenging period he faced immediately after a big-money move from Everton in January.
The 22-year-old's name has begun to enter conversations around the England squad for next summer's Euros. However, it was ahead of an appearance at the European Under-21 Championships when Gordon received a helping hand from club colleague Trippier.
“I was with Anthony on holiday before he went away to the [Under-21] Euros and we had a good chat," Trippier said after Saturday's win against Man Utd, per the Shields Gazette. "We were in Dubai before I went away with England but we had a good chat about when he first signed and how it was difficult for him with the way we play and the way we train - it’s the same with any new signing.
“I said to him ‘give it time, this is an important summer for you going away with the Under-21’s, do as well as you can but don’t take much time off and come straight back to Newcastle in your first pre-season'," the right-back added. The progress has been plain to see since, with Gordon delivering six goals and three assists in just over 1,000 minutes of Premier League football, but a first senior England cap has yet to arrive.
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“Obviously that’s not for me to pick the [senior England] team, that’s for Gareth but all I said to him was don’t overthink it," Trippier added. "He’s not been in the past few squads but Gareth has made it clear that he is on the radar. All I said to Anthony was don’t overthink it, just focus on your club and keep performing like you are performing and then the rewards will come. He is getting more goals and assists so he deserves it.”
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Kieran Trippier set up Anthony Gordon's winner against Manchester United (Richard Lee/REX/Shutterstock)Gordon's winner against Manchester United came off the back of him winning Newcastle's player of the month award for November. The weekend victory came off the back of a painful equaliser for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek, and the match-winner spoke of the importance of rebounding instantly.
"I think the way in which we won the game, and obviously the way the week's gone, it's a massive win and we knew Newcastle vs United is a massive game anyway and where we are in the league it's a big game for us," Gordon told NUTV. "We felt at half-time the first goal was going to be massive in the game, because I felt like they were playing for the second half, to make the game difficult towards the end and try and nick a goal.
"I don't think it's a secred any more," he added when asked about raising his game. "I'm trying to just be consistent with performing, adding goals and assists, that end product, but I've said plenty of times that's not my main focus - my main focus is to be someone that the manager can trust, and hopefully be one of the first names on the teamsheet because of that trust."
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