England handed Kieran Trippier fitness boost as last-16 showdown looms at Euro 2024

Kieran Trippier has allayed any injury fears at Euro 2024 as England now turn their attentions towards the knockout stages.

The versatile defender – a right-back by trade – continued to start at left-back for Tuesday night’s Group C stalemate against Slovenia in Cologne, having also fulfilled that role in the opening games against both Serbia and Denmark.

Trippier is being used as a makeshift option on the left side of defence in Germany with the only specialist left-back selected in Gareth Southgate’s final tournament squad, Luke Shaw, still not fit to play after a hamstring injury despite joining in with training on Monday.

It remains to be seen when exactly Shaw will be ready to feature, meaning that any injury to Trippier would be very keenly felt indeed by England with the likes of Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell not being picked as cover for the Euros.

Trippier picked up a yellow card in the early stages against Slovenia and was later replaced by Trent Alexander-Arnold with five minutes of the match remaining with heavy strapping visible around his calf.

However, the Newcastle full-back has now dismissed any concerns over his fitness heading into England’s last-16 assignment against as-yet unknown opponents in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday evening.

“No I’m okay, it’s just obviously I’ve been out for a long time, played consecutive games. But I can’t complain, I’m playing for my country,” Trippier told ITV.

“I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to play my part, left-back, all I can do is do my best.”

On the latest underwhelming England performance against Slovenia, Trippier said: “The main objective from the start of the Euros was to qualify and we’ve done that.

“We’ve topped the group, but we know the performances haven’t been there. We are an honest group. We know we can do better, I’ll admit that.

“There’s a lot [we can do to improve]. You can see from before the tournament compared to now, we can be more aggressive on the press and create so many more chances, especially when you see the quality in our side.

“All we can do now is regroup and focus on what we can improve on. We’re happy that we’ve qualified but we know the performances can be better.”