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Gareth Southgate drops strong Euros hint over Newcastle United duo

Scott Wilson
·2-min read
Anthony Gordon in action for England in March <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Anthony Gordon in action for England in March (Image: PA)

GARETH SOUTHGATE has strongly hinted that Newcastle United duo Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon will both make the England squad for this summer’s Euros.

Trippier has spent part of the last week in Dubai, working with a physio and fitness coach as he completes his recovery from the calf injury that has sidelined him for the last two months.

The full-back will not be involved in Saturday’s game at Burnley, but he could return for the following weekend’s home match with Brighton and should get an opportunity to prove his wellbeing in the final three games of the campaign.

That should then cement his place in Southgate’s squad for Germany, with the England boss regarding the 33-year-old as one of his key defenders.

“He is an important part of our squad,” said Southgate, who was at St James’ Park earlier this week hosting a fans’ forum with members of the England Supporters’ Club. “He is a very experienced player at international level. You know as well as we do the leadership qualities that he has, the impact that he has on the team and on the squad.

“He fulfils a very similar role for us and, of course, that adaptability that he can play on the right or the left is important to us as well.”

While Trippier has been an integral part of Southgate’s senior squad for a number of years, Gordon only made his international debut in March’s friendly defeat to Brazil.

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He has been one of the stars of the Premier League season though, with his ten goals and nine assists in the league playing a major role in Newcastle’s ongoing challenge for a European place and thrusting him to the forefront of Southgate’s thinking ahead of the summer.

“He’s been outstanding all year,” said the England boss. “We were able to see him in the Champions League games, which of course is very similar to our world, it’s knockout games against top-level opponents.

“Then the fact that he’s weighing in with goals is important, but also the work he does off the ball. He works tirelessly for the team, and I think we saw that with our games in March as well. We were very pleased with what he did.”