Ian Wright has revealed he has sympathy for suffering Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier following his wretched recent form.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Football Club (1:15:50), the high-profile pundit expressed his delight that Gareth Southgate kept faith with the Spurs defender and named him in his squad for this week’s Euro 2020 qualifiers.
“It’s not going great for Kieran Trippier at the moment,” Wright said. “I’m quite pleased that Gareth brought him in because he’s someone that needs an arm around him at the moment.
“He’s been getting a lot of stick at Spurs, especially in the north London derby and stuff like that. He wasn’t having a great game. Coming off the summer he had, I’m pleased that Gareth has brought him in to give him confidence and say, ‘Yes, I still back you’.”
OPINION
Trippier can consider himself very fortunate to have kept his place in the England squad following his ropey season for Spurs. The right-back’s calamitous own goal against Chelsea was the nadir, but there has been plenty of other evidence of a defender who has become a byword for mediocrity. Just ask Spurs fans, an increasing number of whom believe the club should cash in on Trippier this summer, as well as Serge Aurier, and buy a top-class right-back. One of those who might fall into that category, Kyle Walker, is also in the England squad, but the two men with strong Tottenham connections are not a patch on Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose technical ability, dynamism and all-round composure is on a totally different level. Should all three be fit, the 20-year-old sensation must surely start the England fixtures against Czech Republic and Montenegro over the next few days.