Trippier next? The last 7 England internationals to play for Newcastle
January 2022 marks the first transfer window since Newcastle United were taken over – and reports have suggested that Kieran Tripper will be the first signing under the Saudi Arabian regime.
His arrival would be a coup. Trippier is an experienced defender who helped Atletico Madrid win La Liga in 2020-21 and has starred for England at the last two major tournaments.
With Trippier expected to make the switch over the next few days, we’ve identified the last seven Newcastle players to pull on the Three Lions jersey while playing for the club – we’ve had to go further back than expected.
Andros Townsend
The last Newcastle player to turn out for England did so, ironically, in a friendly held at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Townsend had signed for Newcastle in January 2016 but was unable to prevent the Toon from being relegated at the end of the season.
The winger, who often played better for his country than his club, made a cameo appearance during the 2-1 win over Australia just before Euro 2016 but was sold to Crystal Palace before representing England again later that year.
READ: How Andros Townsend’s Newcastle wondergoals left a huge ‘what-if?’
Andy Carroll
Before his failure at Liverpool, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Carroll enjoyed an explosive start to the 2010-11 season for Newcastle.
The big striker helped the club achieve promotion the year before and made a substantial impact on the top flight during the latter half of 2010, scoring 11 goals in 19 league matches.
His form attracted the attention of Fabio Capello, who gave Carroll a call-up to face France in November of that year. His involvement was threatened by injury, but the Geordie passed a late fitness test and made an appearance as a second-half substitute.
Andy Carroll's strike against Liverpool back in 2010 👏 #NUFC pic.twitter.com/llgesPDhQG
— ToonArmy (@toonarmy_com) January 6, 2021
Alan Smith
Smith played for England plenty of times while at Leeds and Manchester United but enjoyed an unexpected second-wind under Steve McClaren in 2007.
Gradually transitioning from an explosive striker to a defensive midfielder, the blonde-haired Smith started a defeat to Germany in an August friendly and made an appearance from the bench during a win over Austria three months later.
Injuries and a general decline meant Smith didn’t play for England again thereafter.
Scott Parker
Parker’s England career was a curious one.
The midfielder earned his first four caps while playing for four different clubs (Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham) and only established himself as an international regular while playing for Tottenham almost a decade after his debut.
His one England appearance in a Newcastle shirt was a disastrous one, playing in the 2-0 defeat to Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier – yes, the one with that Paul Robinson blunder.
Parker wouldn’t feature for England again for another four-and-a-half years.
Michael Owen
With the 2006 World Cup on the horizon, Owen left the Real Madrid subs bench to sign for Newcastle in the summer of 2005.
The striker won his final 18 England caps as a Newcastle player but there wasn’t much glory involved – Owen damaged his cruciate ligament during the draw with Sweden at Germany 2006 and the Three Lions failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Despite this, he did manage a brace during an epic friendly against Argentina in 2005 so it wasn’t all bad.
READ: The Golden Generation’s last stand: England 3-2 Argentina, 2005
Nicky Butt
Once identified by Pele as the best player of the 2002 World Cup, Butt made the final four appearances of his international career following his move to Newcastle in the summer of 2004.
Butt started World Cup qualifying victories over Wales and Azerbaijan and appeared in friendlies against Ukraine and Spain. The 1-0 defeat in the Bernabeu was his last game for England.
Jonathan Woodgate
Woodgate was a classy defender that was only prevented from winning more England caps by the quality of competition at centre back and his own injury problems.
Having performed well for Newcastle under Sir Bobby Robson, he was given the opportunity to stake a claim for England’s Euro 2004 squad by Sven Goran Eriksson.
After starting the 1-0 defeat against Sweden in March 2004, his season was ended by injury a month later and Woodgate missed the tournament. His next England appearance would come almost three years later while playing for Middlesbrough.
More Newcastle
A ridiculous XI of players Newcastle have been tipped to sign in January
Comparing Kieran Trippier’s 2021-22 stats to Newcastle’s full-backs
Can you name Newcastle’s XI from their 7-1 win v Tottenham in 1996?
‘Mystery man is a Geordie’: The story of Newcastle’s strangest goalscorer