Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Eddie Howe isn’t being honest about one Newcastle United star.

Newcastle United jetted off to Australia after wrapping up the Premier League season with a 4-2 victory at Brentford.

The Magpies were involved in a post-season friendly against Tottenham on Wednesday, which resulted in a penalty shootout victory after a 1-1 draw.

It’s a decision which has received plenty of backlash, with Alan Brazil labelling the friendly as ‘absolute madness’ due to Euro 2024 kicking off next month.

One Newcastle player who is expected to feature at this summer’s Euros for England is Kieran Trippier, who started at right-back against Spurs yesterday.

However, there were concerns when the Newcastle skipper was replaced in the 37th minute and spotted with an ice pack on his ankle for the remainder of the game.

Eddie Howe has since claimed that Trippier isn’t injured and his early substitution was ‘planned’ ahead of the game. But Gabriel Agbonlahor isn’t convinced by the Englishman’s comments. 

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Agbonlahor reacts to Howe’s Kieran Trippier comments

Speaking on talkSPORT [23/05 7:22am], both Agbonlahor and Alan Brazil slammed Newcastle and Tottenham’s friendly in Melbourne.

Brazil then raised concerns over Trippier and said: “I’ve not heard the latest but there was a scare by all accounts on 37 minutes when Kieran Trippier was taken off with an apparent injury.

“But the manager Eddie Howe said it was always the plan [to take him off]. What after 37 minutes? Come on Ed.”

“No it wasn’t,” Agbonlahor responded. “He’s lying. He’s definitely had a little knock.” 

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Trippier substitution will be a concern for England

Despite Howe’s comments, Gareth Southgate would have likely been watching on nervously yesterday.

The England boss is short of options in the full-back department and Trippier is expected to play a key role at the Euros this summer.

Trippier has only just returned from a calf injury earlier this month and the £12 million man holding an ice pack over his ankle won’t be a welcome sight for Southgate.

With that being said, it could have just been a precautionary measure and Howe is usually the type of manager who is straight to the point while speaking to the press.