Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed that he has found it painful to watch one Newcastle United player at Euro 2024, and called for him to be dropped ahead of the knockout stages.
Newcastle have a handful of players at Euro 2024 with Anthony Gordon managing to make a real impression despite only featuring in the final moments of England’s draw with Slovenia in Cologne.
Another Newcastle star who featured in that game was Kieran Trippier, with the full-back once again starting on the left in the absence of the injured Luke Shaw.
Trippier has been such a reliable figure for the Three Lions down the years, often proving to be a decent performer at left-back. However, this tournament has not seen the best of the former Atlético Madrid man by any means.
Gabriel Agbonlahor says it’s been painful watching Kieran Trippier
England have been poor during the group-stages, having only won one game. And the football on show has been incredibly underwhelming, with some feeling that Bukayo Saka should even play at left-back instead of Trippier.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Gabriel Agbonlahor expressed some concern about the Arsenal man playing there, but believes that a change is necessary, and feels that it could work in England’s last 16 tie, at least.
“I agree with [the criticism of] Trippier, it’s painful watching him at left-back, just cuts inside every time. Listen, playing the Netherlands, I would’ve said no, but for one game only, we’re playing Slovakia who are going to sit back, not got much going forward, I wouldn’t mind [Saka at left-back] for one game,” he said.
Newcastle star far from being the only person to blame
Trippier is not the only player to blame for England’s struggles. Ultimately, they had more than enough quality on the pitch to ensure that they won all three games. But things just are not clicking.
It was a surprise to see Gareth Southgate only make one change for the draw with Slovenia last time out, as that game presented England with an opportunity to try a few different things.
That opportunity is not really there, even against Slovakia. So many will be expecting the seemingly cautious Southgate to stick with Trippier.