Tottenham 1 Newcastle 1 (Newcastle win 5-4 on pens)
Kieran Trippier handed England an early Euro 2024 injury scare when he needed an ice pack on his ankle during Newcastle’s controversial friendly with Tottenham on Wednesday.
The right-back, part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the tournament in Germany this summer, lasted just 37 minutes of the club’s end of season friendly with Spurs in Australia. Trippier said before the game that the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was ‘not ideal’.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe allayed fears Trippier picked up an injury and but said the 33-year-old was still working his way back to full match fitness.
“No that was all planned. We spoke to Kieran and thought the best thing to do was start him,” Howe said.
“He is still in the early stages of recovery so we didn’t want to take risks with him. Half an hour was always the aim.
“He did well and is not injured. Let’s see how he feels on Friday. We have to make sure we treat him well at the early stages.”
Trippier had previously made just three appearances for his club since the beginning of March after being sidelined by a calf injury.
Southgate will have to reduce the party to 26 by June 7 and Trippier, who has featured in England’s last three major tournaments, will hope to win a seat on the plane.
He looked on from the sidelines in Melbourne as the game finished 1-1 after Alexander Isak had cancelled out James Maddison’s opener with both managers having changed their entire starting XIs.
Newcastle eventually prevailed 5-4 on penalties with youngsters Joe White, Ben Parkinson, Amadou Diallo, Garang Kuol and Harrison Ashby all scoring from the spot after substitute keeper Mark Gillespie had saved Bryan Gil’s opening attempt.
Howe and his players will now start preparations for Friday’s fixture against an A-League All Stars team in a post-season trip that has attracted criticism over player welfare.
Alan Shearer branded the decision to fly to Australia hours after the end of the Premier League season “crazy” and “madness” as he expressed player welfare concerns.
“Crazy. Crazy. Can you imagine if you’re a player playing at either the Copa America or Euros and having to do that? I wouldn’t be happy at all. Crazy,” he said.
Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham’s travel plans have also been condemned by environmental campaigners, who want football clubs to set a better example on sustainability.
Howe also worked through the night as he keeps up to date with the club’s recruitment plans when it is daytime here.
Those appear likely to bear early fruit with Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, as revealed by Telegraph Sport last month, poised to become the club’s first summer signing on a free transfer. Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly is likely to be joining him, also as a free agent, following the expiry of his contract on the south coast.