Back on form after Bayern interest - Can Trippier lead Newcastle back into Champions League?

After the highs of finishing fourth last season and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, this campaign has been slightly underwhelming for Newcastle United. Dealt the ‘group of death’ in Europe’s top club competition alongside PSG, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, the Magpies crashed out and finished bottom of the group. In the league consistency has also been elusive for Eddie Howe’s team. They currently languish in eighth, and are 10 points adrift of fifth placed Aston Villa. However, there could be a turning point taking place, and it could be centred around the form of their captain Kieran Trippier. 

“Never say never but it’s going to be tough, it’s about finishing the season strong.” said Trippier after registering his tenth assist of the season in a 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. No player has more assists than the Newcastle right-back in the Premier League this season. Trippier added, “We have one game a week now and we’re getting players back fit, which is very important for us.” It's true Newcastle have had rotten luck with injuries this season, but their squad is coming together again for the business end of the campaign. And after a rare dip in form at the end of 2023, and following rejecting an approach from Bayern Munich, 33-year-old Trippier is looking back to his best.

A season of ups and downs for Trippier

Last season, Trippier was one of the stand out performers not only in a successful Newcastle team, but in the entire Premier League. He was selected in the PFA team of the year, had 14 clean sheets, and registered seven assists. This term, despite still performing, the consistency hasn’t quite been there, with huge fluctuations in form. But the Englishmen began the season where he had left off last campaign.

In the first nine Premier League games, Trippier was part of a back four who kept four clean sheets and conceded just nine goals. A more impressive statistic when you consider Newcastle played against Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Brighton in those fixtures. In those matches, Trippier also registered six assists, including a hat-trick of assists in an 8-0 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. 

However, by November an injury crisis had struck at St James Park. The task of managing Premier League and Champions League football became a bit too much for a depleted Newcastle squad. This season 12 first team players have missed five or more Premier League games through injury. The absentees were racking up, and it meant the players that were fit were being pushed to their limits in terms of fitness and game-time. It certainly seemed to affect Trippier.

In back-to-back games against Everton and Tottenham, Trippier made key errors leading to opposition goals. He came on a week later against Chelsea in the League Cup quarter-final and did the same thing; failing to clear a relatively tame cross in the dying minutes leading to Mykhaylo Mudryk equalising. Something usually out of character for a player normally synonymous with being so reliable. Up until that point, Trippier had played 90 minutes in 14 of Newcastle’s 16 Premier League games. In the other two fixtures he was taken off with around 20 minutes to go. In the five opening Champions League matches, the former Tottenham man had also played the full game on every occasion. At 33 years of age it was taking its toll and having a detrimental affect on performances. 

In the January transfer window serious interest came in for Trippier from German giants Bayern Munich. The Bavarians made three offers for the defender, the last of which was a €15m bid on January 23. Newcastle rejected all of Bayern’s approaches, and despite rumours of Trippier himself asking the club to make the move, the full-back came out last week and said, “It was strange, I’ve never requested to leave, I’ve always been committed to the club.” He continued to Sky Sports, “I take it as a compliment, it’s a huge club.” And since the interest, and Newcastle’s winter break, Trippier has looked back to his best.

In the last three Premier league games since the winter break, Trippier has registered three assists and scored. He also captained the team to a 2-0 win over Fulham in the FA Cup. It means the Newcastle skipper is now joint top on the assist rankings in the Premier League level with Villa’s Ollie Watkins with 10 assists a piece. If the Magpies are to make a late charge for the top five, which may be enough for Champions league football next season, the form of their captain Trippier is going to be integral.

Can Trippier help get Newcastle back in the top five

Between December 23, and January 13, Newcastle lost five consecutive Premier League games. In the eight games between December 12 and January 13 the North East side lost seven out of eight games. To go on a run like that and still achieve Champions League football would be some feat. Newcastle have been unable to find the consistency they had last season, where they ultimately finished fourth with 71 points. The most the club had earned since the 2001/02 season. As mentioned earlier, injuries have ravaged Howe’s resources and the lengthy ban given to midfielder Sandro Tonali for breaching betting rules has only added to their woes. But things have picked up in the last few matches.

A 3-1 win at Champions league chasing rivals Aston Villa kept dreams alive, and a 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest last weekend kept the hopes of making a late charge achievable. The Magpies are currently 10 points behind fifth placed Villa, and 11 points behind fourth placed Spurs. Tottenham need to go to St James Park in April. Although Newcastle do face tough trips to Old Trafford, and the Emirates, their fixture run-in does look slightly more favourable than their rivals. Howe’s men have already faced both Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa twice. If they are to make it, they are going to need to keep their players fit and need some heroic displays from Trippier and co.