**Kieran Trippier was on media duty out in Spain today ahead of Newcastle United’s Champions League Round of 16 second leg at the Nou Camp tonight.**
As is the tradition in the Champions League, the manager’s press conference is followed by a Q&A with a member of the squad, and this time it was Trippier’s turn on Tuesday afternoon.
The 35-year-old has been a huge figure for Newcastle [since his arrival as the first signing of the PIF-era](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2022/01/07/trippier-signs-full-details-official-unveiling-video-first-words-from-him-eddie-howe/) back in January 2022 and has shown this season that he’s still got what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Indeed, Trippier has been asked to play a lot more games than anybody likely anticipated due to the injuries of Tino Livramento and Emil Krafth, but despite his advancing years, he’s never looked out of place.
The club has a big decision to make at the end of the season with Trippier’s contract due to expire, but it seems the man himself isn’t thinking that far ahead.
Speaking to the media from the Nou Camp, Trippier was keen to push back future talks for a later date, although he did confirm that he and Eddie Howe will hold discussions in the coming weeks.
> _“The reality is my contract is up at the end of the season, but I’m not thinking about that._
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> _“I’m just thinking about tomorrow and helping the club get to where they want to be. If I do that, I’ve done my job. I’m not looking beyond that._
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> _“When I leave, I’ll know I’ve helped the club. There’s loads of possibilities (what could happen)._
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> _“Football is a strange game. Me and the manager will have a talk in the next couple of weeks”_
There has to come a point where we let go of players we absolutely adore, and we do adore Kieran Trippier. Whatever happens next, he will have left a mark on this club, taking us from a side battling relegation to one travelling to Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.
But are we ready to say goodbye just yet? If he’d been making mistake after mistake during his spell in the side, the next steps would be obvious, but it almost feels like he’s rolled back the years and has been thriving playing every few days.
If Man City target Tino Livramento does depart this summer, alongside Emil Krafth, perhaps one more year of Trippier could make sense, providing experience and cover, be it behind Tino or any new right-back signing.