Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has paid tribute to Newcastle fullback Kieran Trippier following an outstanding season for the Magpies.

The England international has been consistently excellent for Eddie Howe’s team as they close in on a top-four finish, and Merson has praised the player’s leadership and defensive qualities:

“He has taken it to another level this season. He’s always had a great right foot but the time he spent at Atletico Madrid made him an even better defender. And his leadership qualities on and off the pitch have been so important for Newcastle. He’s an unbelievable professional.”

Merson selected Trippier in his Premier League Team of the Season. One other Newcastle player also made the cut, with summer signing Sven Botman being named.

In terms of the rest of the eleven, Merson went with four Arsenal players in Aaron Ramsdale, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Premier League leaders Manchester City had two players mentioned, with only Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland being deemed worthy of inclusion.

Despite sitting sixteen points behind the league leaders, Merson decided to name three Manchester United stars in Luke Shaw, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford. No players outside the current top four made the eleven.