Not many supporters elsewhere would be quite so excited about a right-back stepping up his rehab, but the mere sight of Kieran Trippier back on an exercise bike this week delighted Newcastle United fans. It is easy to see why.
It is a team game, of course, but in the four league games before Trippier completed his mid-season move from Atletico Madrid, Newcastle conceded 12 goals and claimed just a point against some admittedly difficult opposition. In contrast, in the four top-flight fixtures the England international played in, Newcastle picked up 10 points and let in just two goals after previously only winning one game all season.
When it came to crosses (10), touches (266) and passes completed in the opposition half (55), the influential Trippier led the way in the games he played for Newcastle and also scored two crucial free-kicks against Everton and Aston Villa. Defensively, too, only Joelinton made more successful tackles than Trippier (12) in those matches while no one made more interceptions (10).
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However, Trippier's impact could not just be measured in numbers. Trippier lifted morale and breathed confidence into those around him on literally his first day when he addressed the squad and the 31-year-old has helped to raise standards even further at the training ground.
In the words of Ryan Fraser, Trippier has been a 'monster'. It is sometimes easy to forget that Trippier was captaining his country and winning La Liga just months before joining Newcastle and those survivors from the Ashley era who are desperate to be part of the club's future have unsurprisingly wanted to tap into that experience and follow his lead.
It is Trippier who is the most vocal player in a black-and-white shirt on the pitch, regularly telling his team-mates to 'keep your heads', whether Newcastle have just taken the lead or gone behind. After the game, too, regardless of the result, it is often Trippier who speaks up in the dressing room and it was the 31-year-old who told his crestfallen team-mates to simply take one game at a time after the humiliating FA Cup exit against Cambridge United on his debut.
Perhaps, then, it was not a surprise that Trippier's first thought after learning that he had fractured a bone in his foot last month was to see how he could continue to support his team-mates from the sidelines. Trippier has attended every game since - even while on crutches.
Pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor bizarrely questioned whether Trippier was 'doing that for the cameras'. However, tellingly, Trippier's team-mates have felt differently.
"I speak to the lads about it and they're all buzzing I'm there around the place," Trippier told NUFC TV. "I understand that I can't play, but I want to support my team-mates.
"I could be sitting at home doing nothing but I'd rather travel with the team, stay in the team hotel the night before games and just be that presence in the dressing room. Even though I'm not playing, be around the place and be part of the team. That's the most important thing."
It might not be too long before Trippier joins his team-mates back on the training pitches at this rate after the right-back was freed from his moonboot. While Eddie Howe is conscious of not rushing Trippier back, the Newcastle boss believes the 31-year-old could return to action 'pretty soon' if everything goes to plan in the coming weeks.
Newcastle face Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal in three of their final four games this season and Trippier will surely be in contention for those testing fixtures - if not before then - if he does not encounter any setbacks. Newcastle will hope to be safe by then but, even so, Trippier and co will ensure there is no let up so that the Magpies finish the campaign strongly.
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