The transfer strategy that could be key this summer as NUFC search for more Kieran Trippier’s

When we were relegated in 2009 and 2016, there were some common themes.

• Mike Ashley’s lack of care or investment.
• Poor management.
• A squad of individuals who weren’t willing to fight for the cause.

Early this season, all of these three things seemed to be correct again, creating the perfect recipe for a third NUFC relegation.

Now, I’m not saying this squad is filled with prima donnas like the past two (looking at you, Owen, Sissoko, Duff, Wijnaldum et al). In fact, my last piece was a rousing rebuttal of the accusations against our original squad this season.

But it was clear that many were disillusioned and there was no sense of togetherness.

Look at us now. Dressing room photos every time we win that show a team united and ecstatic. They’re absolutely ludicrous and yet they’re my favourite thing in the world.

No sneaking off down the tunnel to avoid supporters when we lose.

We’re seeing more leaders arise amongst the ranks than we’ve ever seen before – Howe has commended Lascelles’ attitude to losing his place in the team, Trippier has had captain written all over him since day one, Dan Burn is a massively commanding presence at the back, Fabian Schar earned his first armband recently and Shelvey’s attitude seems to have done a total 180.

Our existing players have undoubtedly stepped up, but we chose to hire based on character as well as talent in January. It was clear that Trippier was brought in due to his leadership abilities as well as his stonking free kicks. He’s saying and doing all the right things even though he hasn’t featured since early February. He’s been travelling to – by the looks of it – all of our games to support the lads. It flies in the face of the accusations that he only came here for the money. He’s been very firm in his statements that he’s here for the challenge, and it’s clear to see in his actions.

Trippier brings with him a breadth of experience we haven’t had at Newcastle United in so long. While we have internationals dotted about in our squad, it’s been some time since we had an England regular who has even captained the side. He’s played in a La Liga-winning Atletico side and in the Champions League, and in each competition he was commanding from the back.

Although it was genuinely lovely to see Schar get the armband against Everton, Dan Burn was a standout contender for it in the absence of Lascelles, Trippier and Shelvey. Not only does he have the passion that only a Geordie can have, which in itself boosts the team, but he’s commanding and authoritative at the back. He’s not too dissimilar to Lascelles in the way he barks commands and encourages players and I’d like to see him get the armband at some point.

Even our luxury January purchase, Bruno, has his head screwed on when it comes to Newcastle United. It must take a lot to lure a player so in-demand to a club at serious risk of relegation. He too has spoken about being bought into the project, and from what we saw against Everton and Chelsea, he’s not afraid to get stuck in at the deep end and battle it out for the ball.

When you become the richest club in the world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying luxury players. Prima donnas exist mostly in the richest and most successful teams in the world. Sometimes, it’s a price you have to pay for success. But at a time when we needed players that were talented enough to improve the team as well as characters who could boost morale, Staveley and co delivered.

In fact, Staveley even admitted in an interview with The Athletic that an “incredible player” was close to signing at one point in January, however we walked away from our initial bid after character checks came back negative, allowing another club to sign him instead after we feared this mystery man was too “selfish.”

We know that not every signing will be in the mould of Trippier and Burn going forward. We know that, the closer to success we get, the more likely we are to end up with a team of vanity players. But the right moves were made in January and it gives us confidence that attitude will, where possible, be a factor in who we decide to buy.

Even the most luxurious squads have natural-born leaders. Iniesta and Xavi in that sublime Barcelona team. Vincent Kompany at Manchester City. Gerrard and Henderson at Liverpool. It’s good to know that this is a factor in our recruitment processes.

I’ll take the Brunos, Burns, and Trippiers of the world over the Donny Van Der Beeks any day.