Kieran Trippier admits he's struggled to live up to World Cup reputation for Spurs this season

Kieran Trippier hands behind his head
Kieran Trippier has struggled with injuries and form this season Credit: Getty Images

Kieran Trippier has admitted he has struggled to live up to his World Cup reputation for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Right-back Trippier was one of England’s star performers in Russia, but the 28-year-old has struggled at times for Spurs.

England manager Gareth Southgate has kept faith with Trippier for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Montenegro, but the former Burnley man acknowledges he needs to improve.

“I could have done a lot better this season,” said Trippier. “I've picked up a lot of injuries and there's been games when I've looked back and watched, and thought 'I could have done this better', 'I could have done that better'.

“It's all about learning, but I admit I could have done a lot better. I am here now and I need to try to impress to try and start for England and try and do the best I can with every opportunity I get between now and the end of the season.”

Trippier reacts after scoring
Trippier was one of England's star performers in Russia Credit: Getty Images

Asked whether or not he could explain his loss of form, Trippier added: “Obviously, I don't go into a game not wanting to do well. I go into every game to try to do my best for my team-mates and the club.

“It's just one of those things, it just happens. You know when you've had a bad game. You can always improve, and we've got a good manager back at the club. He sits us down individually and as a group, shows where you could have done better, and with a good manager like that you can always only learn.”

Trippier, though, dismissed that he has suffered from World Cup burn-out, adding: “Obviously, it's a long World Cup getting to the semis and stuff. The Premier League come around straightaway, but it's what we do it. It's our job.

“If we get picked, we all want to play. People can say the World Cup is the reason why, but, for me personally, I don't think it was. I think it's just one of those things, you pick up injuries.

“Obviously rest is the most important thing and it would have been nice to get an extra week or something, but the season came around early, so you've just got to get on with it.

“There's big games for England coming up and then obviously when we get back there is a massive six, seven weeks towards the end of the season at club level.

“There's teams just behind us trying to catch us for the top four. We have just got to do as well as we can. We know how well we can do and, hopefully, it'll be a good end to the season for us.”

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