‘People say’: Gary Neville slams what he hears about Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier

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Gary Neville has slammed those critics questioning why Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier gets picked for England.

The former Manchester United player shared how someone like Trippier is picked for those ‘defining’ moments when donning the colours of his country.

That was proven to at the 2018 World Cup when Trippier, then at Tottenham Hotspur, opened the scoring with a free-kick goal against Croatia in the semi-finals.

Gareth Southgate’s side might have gone on to lose that game, but in truth, just like against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, the team should have held firm.

Well, now in Newcastle colours, the 32-year-old is still doing the business from set-piece situations and playing some of the best football of his career.

Not only will Trippier be a certain pick for Qatar, but he might just start, as Neville explained why when talking to Sky Sports Premier League.

“You think about why Trippier gets in (the England squad),” said Neville. “People say ‘why does Trippier get in, we don’t need three right-backs. We don’t need four right-backs’.

“It’s because he scores from free-kicks. In the big games when it’s tight and there is a struggle. They are the defining moments. 

“Gareth (Southgate) proved that in 2018 in Russia. I think it will be the same in Qatar, when those big moments will be determined by those penalties and free-kicks.

“To not have him there, it would be a big risk.”

REECE JAMES AND KYLE WALKER’S INJURIES

Southgate should count his lucky stars that England are blessed in the right-back department because he might just be two short next month.

Chelsea defender Reece James looks set to be out of action for eight weeks and, as things stand, he won’t go to Qatar, as he told Sky Sports.

Then there is Walker,  another right-back on the sidelines and another player fighting to be fit.

If the duo miss out on that golden ticket, then it almost confirms that Trippier will start against Iran, especially given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s form.