- The Newcastle and England star had missed two days of training in Germany
- Kieran Trippier has played every game of Euro 2024 in a versatile left-back role
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Gareth Southgate has been given a boost on the eve of England’s Euro 2024 last-16 clash against Slovakia on Sunday after Kieran Trippier was declared fit to play.
There had been concerns over whether the Newcastle full-back – who has played at emergency left-back during the competition so far – would be able to feature amid a fitness scare.
Trippier missed two days of training at England’s tournament headquarters but returned to practice amongst his team-mates on Saturday – with every player joining in.
England take on Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen in the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a chance to book a quarter-final against Italy or Switzerland.
The discussion over who will start at left-back against Slovenia has dominated talk in the build-up to the last-16 test, with Bukayo Saka rebuffing suggestions that he could feature there and Luke Shaw declaring himself available again.
Trippier has been one of Southgate’s most-trusted players across previous major tournaments and has demonstrated his versatility again in group stage clashes against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.
He is expected to start against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday despite Man United defender, Shaw, rejoining team training earlier in the week.
Shaw has been a permanent fixture at left-back for England in recent years but hasn’t played for five months after suffering an injury that prematurely curtailed his season with Man United.
He was taken to the European Championship by Southgate with it expected that he wouldn’t be fit to play until after the group stage.
Trippier played the entirety of England’s opening two matches in Germany and the majority of their 1-1 draw against Slovenia last time out.
However, his time with England hasn’t been smooth sailing with his presence also sidelined by off-field issues amid his marriage reportedly being on the rocks.
Groups of players partners have been visible at every England game so far, however one WAG is notably absent from all pictures in Germany.
Trippier‘s wife Charlotte has not been spotted cheering on the Newcastle player and has been posting cryptic messages on her social media ever since the tournament got underway.