Gareth Southgate has stated that Kieran Trippier is fully healthy and only had a ‘cramp’ during England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia on Sunday.
Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute header was enough to keep the Three Lions’ perfect record in major tournament openers under Southgate. However, England’s performance was not convincing, as they had to deal with a lot of Serbian pressure.
In the second half, Kieran Trippier sat on the pitch and called for medical help, which worried England fans.
Although the Newcastle defender was able to finish the game, he must be able to continue throughout the tournament as he steps in at left-back with Luke Shaw injured – an area of the pitch that has become a major issue for Southgate.
Southgate provides a favorable Trippier fitness update.
Trippier has not played 90 minutes in a match since Newcastle’s FA Cup penalty shootout victory against Blackburn Rovers on February 27, as he recovered from a calf injury.
Fortunately, Southgate has revealed that the 33-year-old defender suffered a cramp.
“Just a bit of cramp really,” he told talkSPORT of Trippier’s health after Sunday’s match in Gelsenkirchen.
“I mean, that’s his first 90 minutes in months and to play the way he did just shows what an incredible character he is for us.”
England leads Group C after a 1-0 victory, while Denmark and Slovenia drew 1-1 earlier in the day.
The Three Lions head to Frankfurt on Thursday afternoon to face Denmark in a rematch of their Euro 2020 semi-final, knowing that a win will guarantee their position in the knockout rounds with one game to spare.
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