Kieran Trippier's remarkable journey at Newcastle United is set to reach its emotional conclusion this Sunday, as the right-back prepares for his final appearance at St James' Park against West Ham.

The 35-year-old arrived from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, and his impact has been nothing short of transformative. Widely hailed as one of the club's most crucial signings in recent memory, Trippier has been the bedrock of Eddie Howe's revival, helping propel the Magpies from a relegation battle to Champions League contention.

Manager Eddie Howe insists the veteran defender deserves every bit of the adulation coming his way. "He's definitely deserving of the recognition," Howe said. "His decision to come here in the first place needs to be celebrated. He left a hugely successful team in Spain for a club under renovation in the Premier League."

Howe was quick to dismiss any notion that the move was financially motivated. "Everyone said it was about money initially, but I can tell you it wasn't. It was a host of reasons—only he can discuss them—but financial certainly wasn't one of them. He wanted to take the fight on, and I'm so pleased for him that it was rewarded. We stayed up, and he's never looked back."

Trippier's influence only grew from there. "The next season, he played an unbelievable part in our run for the Champions League and was pivotal in the magnificent back four we had that year," Howe recalled. "That's probably my biggest memory of him, other than Carabao Cup final day when I thought he was magnificent. It was a gigantic performance, and he got the feeling of lifting the cup with Bruno Guimaraes and Jamaal Lascelles."

As Trippier prepares to walk off the St James' Park turf for the last time, supporters will have the chance to give a proper farewell to a player who not only redefined the right-back position but also embodied the spirit of Newcastle's resurgence. For a club that has seen its share of heroes, Trippier's legacy as a leader and a difference-maker is secure.