Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier has now shared what Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford previously did to him when he was England captain.
33-year-old Trippier looks set to start at left-back for Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024, at least until Luke Shaw is ready to play.
The second half of Trippier’s club season was disrupted by a calf injury, with the England man returning for just the final three games.
The right-back didn’t look in the best of shape in those matches, which is perhaps a reason to worry ahead of England’s tournament kicking off against Serbia on Sunday.
But Trippier certainly has the trust of Southgate, who will likely lean on a player who has been so crucial for him in recent tournaments.
That being said, when speaking with Pickford in England’s ‘Lion’s Den’, Trippier has just shared a story of what the keeper did to him when he captained England against Andorra in the past.
Kieran Trippier said Jordan Pickford started laughing during his England captain’s speech
Sharing the story, Trippier was initially speaking about his pre-match speech in the huddle against Andorra, and when he then had to do it again at St James’ Park recently.
Trippier said: “There was one time when we were playing Andorra and I was captain. Nobody even knows this so I may as well get it out.
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“So I am captain, you have to do a speech before, and me and Picks are really close. I was nervous as it was and as I was speaking he started bursting out laughing and I lost where I was going.
“Everyone started laughing their heads off. And then I had to do it again, but the thing is every five minutes, him, H, Walks are all going ‘can’t wait to hear your speech’.
“I was going, I just don’t need this right now. I felt comfortable because I have done it loads of times at Newcastle!
“But when I’m with these boys. If he was opposite me again [it would have been bad].
“Second time it went better. I have never told anybody that. It was horrendous. But everyone laughed and we won the game!”
Newcastle could sell Trippier this summer
Despite all he’s achieved during Eddie Howe’s tenure at the club, Newcastle reportedly would sell Trippier if the right offer arrives this summer.
Tino Livarmento thrived in Trippier’s absence and does have a good claim to start on Newcastle’s right with Lewis Hall on the other flank.
Bayern Munich were incredibly interested in signing the Newcastle man in January, and could perhaps return this summer.
All that being said, the real reason Newcastle are jetting out to Japan in pre-season has now been revealed.