Paul Merson has warned Kieran Trippier his ‘World Cup dreams are over’ if he gets relegated with Newcastle, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (08/01/22 at 2:10 pm).
The Sky pundit used Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips as an example and how he only started getting picked for England once he was promoted to the Premier League.
Phillips produced a number of outstanding performances in England’s second-tier, and even though he hadn’t kicked a ball in the Premier League, once Leeds returned, he instantly got picked to represent his country.
Trippier is a regular for England and Gareth Southgate has used him in a number of big and pressure cooker matches.
But now that he is the first signing of this newly-rich Newcastle era, it will be interesting to see how he is used by Southgate, as Merson warned him about what could be coming his way.
“The Trippier signing is a big gamble, for Trippier,” said Merson. “Not only just get relegated. But that would be his World Cup dreams over.
“He doesn’t have to see it like that (that he could get relegated). But you are not playing for your country (whilst in the Championship).
“We see that with Phillips at Leeds. He ripped it up. He only played for England when they got promoted. He never played for them when he was in the league.
“It’s a big gamble (Trippier). I do think it helps with him being there. It’s a good start to the transfer window.”
It needs to be remembered that for England’s last outing, Trippier wasn’t selected by Southgate.
Out of all the areas of the pitch, it’s the right-back spot that is packed with talent and depth.
So, it’s pretty easy not picking a player of Trippier’s quality when you have the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Kyle Walker ahead of you.
But, at the end of the day, if Trippier is on that plane to Qatar at the end of 2022, then Newcastle are probably still a Premier League side because he has done something very right.
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