Kieran Trippier has had to bide his time since joining Tottenham from Burnley in the summer, watching Kyle Walker excel at right-back from the bench and admitting the move was “difficult at the start”. But providing the assist for Son Heung-min’s 89th-minute winner in his first league start at Watford has done his chances of increased participation in future weeks no harm.
The 25-year-old produced an assured performance at wing-back against Watford, after the Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, changed from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1 to combat the hosts’ in-form strike partnership of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo.
“I’m delighted to get my first start,” Trippier said. “It was important, we came here to get the three points, which we did. Playing against 10 men isn’t easy but we got the three points.”
Pochettino has been reluctant to rotate his team too much but the festive schedule forced his hand, enabling Trippier to benefit.
Although Walker is likely to remain first-choice Trippier is upbeat, but concedes there were some struggles when adapting to Spurs’ style of play at the beginning.
“I’m not playing every week but I try to do well every day in training and impress. The manager believed in me today to play and give a good performance, and the most important thing is we got the three points and it’s pushed us further up the table.
“It was a bit difficult at the start, moving down here, but all the lads, the staff, the people around made me feel so welcome and I’m adapting quickly to the style of play of the players here and what the manager needs of me. All I can do is give my best when I’m called upon.”
Trippier was known for his attacking ability and crossing while at Burnley and his high-energy levels, leading to the cross for Son, will have no doubt impressed Pochettino. He added: “I just want to get forward as much as I can and get as many balls into the box for H [Harry Kane] and whoever’s on the end of it. I was happy to get an assist today but most importantly we got the points because it’s not an easy place to come to, Watford.”
