Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier has opened up on his England call-up.
Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier is congratulated by manager Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham Hotspur defender Kieran Trippier has told The Mirror that he was left ‘scared’ after manager Mauricio Pochettino pulled a prank on him last month.
Trippier, a 2015 signing from Burnley, spent the majority of the season as Tottenham’s second-choice right back behind Kyle Walker, but he came to the fore towards the end of the season.
In the final weeks of the campaign, Trippier regularly featured in place of Walker in a surprise switch from Pochettino – and his performances earned him huge praise.
Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier in action with Watford’s Odion Ighalo
Trippier even earned a call-up to the England squad last month, joining Spurs team-mate Walker in Gareth Southgate’s squad for games against Scotland and France.
Trippier will now be hoping to feature for the Three Lions as he seeks his first cap, whilst speculation over Walker’s future means that Tripper may even eye up a role as Tottenham’s first-choice right back next term.
Liverpool’s Oviemuno Ejaria in action with Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Scotland, Trippier has spoken to The Mirror about his call-up, and shared a story of how Spurs boss Pochettino played a prank on him.
Trippier claims that Pochettino called him into his office for something he had done the night before his call-up, even bringing captain Hugo Lloris into the room – only to instead reveal that Trippier had been called up.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
The defender admitted he was ‘scared’ by Pochettino despite knowing he hadn’t done anything wrong, but he was eventually delighted to learn he had been selected for international duty.
“He called me in and said ‘I know what you did last night’. I thought I was in trouble even though I didn’t do anything,” said Trippier. “He scared me and brought in Hugo, the captain. I thought ‘did I do something last night? No I didn’t’. He then said – congratulations, you have been called into England.”
“I was delighted for my mum and phoned my parents straight away as they have done a lot of hard work to get me where I am,” he added.
Do you think Trippier deserved his England call-up?
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