Kieran Trippier has revealed what blew him away when he arrived at Newcastle United after arriving last January with the club sitting in 19th place - insisting Eddie Howe's "belief" in his players saved the club.
Trippier, who has stated this week he took a pay cut to join the Magpies and did not get a relegation release clause, is on the brink of captaining Newcastle to a Champions League place. The full-back is loving life on Tyneside after swapping Atletico Madrid for St James' Park.
Trippier told High Performance Podcast: "The moment I realised we were going to be safe was Southampton away. But to be honest we went on a crazy run.
READ MORE: Newcastle United 0-2 Arsenal player ratings: Nick Pope star man but others struggle
"The belief (to stay up) came from the manager. The players we signed in January were the right characters which is the most important thing.
"You need to have the right characters in the squad. I am a big believer that you need the right characters on the same page, to pull in the same direction."
In a season in which Howe relegated Ryan Fraser to the reserves after stating he wanted "committed" players, Trippier has underlined what Howe demands from the squad.
Trippier added: "The manager is a great believer in that, the way he wants the club to be run. The way he sets up his teams, you need to have a good dressing room.
"How are people going to handle themselves in the squad when they are not playing? You look at Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak now. They are two on fire strikers. There's no bitterness, no complaining, they are both just ready. If you have that in your team that will take you so far."
Toon fans can watch the whole interview here.
