Newcastle United duo Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon have had a very different time of things with England at Euro 2024.
Despite some poor performances for Newcastle last season, Trippier has been one of the ever-presents during an underwhelming first two games for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Clearly, that is a result of Luke Shaw’s injury, with Trippier thrust into the left-back role.
Obviously, it’s not an ideal situation playing a right-footer on the left but it has broadly worked thus far, with the likes of Micah Richards and Ian Wright suggesting the 33-year-old has been solid enough.
Whether or not it will be enough against a truly top side remains to be seen of course but Trippier looks a sure-fire bet to continue in the starting lineup.
The situation surrounding Gordon is very different, however.
There has been clamour for him to start given Phil Foden’s rather ineffective displays on the left wing, while those close to the England squad have reportedly questioned why neither him nor Cole Palmer have played a minute.
Now, Trippier has shared what he’s been telling Gordon in training.
Kieran Trippier shares what he’s told Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon in England training
Speaking to the print edition of the Sunday Sun (23/04/2024), Trippier opened up on discussions with his Newcastle teammate.
“He’s not played in the two games but I was just saying to him, ‘This is tournament football, I’ve been in your position, you’ve got to keep training well, you’ve got to keep working hard’, which he is doing, as everybody else is.
“I said, ‘You will be needed at some point in the tournament. Just keep doing what you’re doing’ – because he was on fire in training.”
Anthony Gordon surely has to start for England against Slovenia
Southgate is hardly a man to tinker all too much but what would be the harm in not starting Gordon against Slovenia on Tuesday?
To have selected him over Jack Grealish must mean something about Southgate’s value of the player, after all.
Barring a complete disaster, England will have enough to win the group anyway.
While it would be somewhat reductive to suggest England’s problems would instantly be fixed by starting Gordon, it surely cannot hurt matters.
The post 'On fire in training': Kieran Trippier shares what he told Anthony Gordon about England at Euro 2024 appeared first on Geordie Boot Boys.