WHEN Kieran Trippier joined Newcastle United, his dream was to make history - but never did he imagine that it would possibly come true in little more than a year at the club.

Eyebrows were raised when the England defender left Atletico Madrid for a battle to avoid the drop in the Premier League with Newcastle, but Trippier ignored the noise and, to a certain extent, the league table.

What tempted him to Tyneside was, of course, Eddie Howe, who he'd played for previously, but also the appeal of "massive" Newcastle United.

And on Sunday, when he leads Newcastle out in the Carabao Cup final - a first domestic cup final for the Magpies in 24 years - his overriding emotion will be pride.

"I always dreamt that I could help Newcastle create history and help the club move forward. Of course, it has happened quickly - we have to be honest about that - but we've performed well and deserved to be in the position that we are in today," said Trippier.

"It came quicker than anybody expected but looking at the players and the way we have performed this season, we deserve to be here."

The success in the last 12 months and the road to the final has justified Trippier's decision to join Newcastle - not that he was bothered about the external reaction to his move.

"Throughout my whole career, I'm one of those players who has no regrets," he says.

"I never look back. I was criticised for going to Atletico Madrid in the first place. When I came to Newcastle, it was the exact same but I know how to handle all these situations where the outside might not agree with the decision I've made.

"I have no regrets. I never looked back. I believed in the manager - I worked with him before - and I believed that I could help the team stay in the Premier League. Newcastle is a massive club - and people are quick to forget that."

While well aware of the size of the club he was joining, there is one aspect of life on Tyneside that has surprised Trippier.

"How crazy the fans are? Certainly," he laughs.

"In a good way, of course. It's more how passionate they are for the club. You don't realise how big of a club it is and how passionate the fans are unless you play for the club. I've certainly realised that. I'm guessing there will be a quarter of a million Geordies going down to London in full voice. I hope they all have a great time and hopefully we can make them proud by the end of the game."

He may well be a relative newcomer to the city and the club but Trippier is only too aware of what Sunday means to Newcastle.

"We have had the Geordie boys, Burny and Longy, non-stop, haven't we," he laughed.

"It's unbelievable for them. I've spoken to them a few times and, picking my kids up from school, I've had the headmaster and everyone in the city wherever I go, talking about it.

"That's nice to see. We want to make them proud as players. We want to get them up for something so exciting and have a nice weekend down in London and, hopefully, it's very positive by the end of it."

Talk of the Wembley final has been impossible to avoid on Tyneside in recent weeks, and Trippier can't switch ff from football at home. His young son Jacob wouldn't let him.

"He's at that age where he knows everything now," smiles the defender.

"He knows exactly what I do, who I play for, who his favourite player is, which is Miggy - not me! I'm proud because he gets to watch his dad play professional football and he understands. He walked out with me the other week and I'm just really proud.

"I had a party for my daughter's birthday the other day, which was crazy. There were 30 or 40 kids there and even his friends are all excited. We try to take his friends to the Newcastle games and he loves that. It's for them. I do everything I can for my kids. If I make them proud then I'm delighted."

Trippier's dad is a Manchester United fan, but he'd be happy to see his side lose at the weekend.

"Me, of course. Well, I hope so," laughed Trippier, when asked who his dad will be supporting.

"It's a proud moment for all my family – even though they are Reds. They’ll be supporting me. Hopefully, we can give a good account of ourselves for the club – and bring the trophy back to Newcastle."

READ MORE:

For all Trippier has achieved in the game, this is the first time he's been involved in a domestic cup final in England. But having played in a Champions League final for Tottenham, a European Championships final for England as well as winning La Liga, his experience will be vital in the Newcastle dressing room in the build-up to Sunday's final. 

He says: "It's all about experiences. I've been in some big finals where I've lost, but I'm grateful to be in another final and have the opportunity to try and win another cup. I try to help my team-mates. I said when I first arrived that I want to help everyone around me on and off the pitch and try and help the club move forward. Fast forward a year, we're in the Carabao Cup final so we have taken huge steps.

"This is my first cup final in England so everyone is just buzzing and excited and we can't wait to travel down and get ready.

"I've been close for Tottenham but it's my first (final) in England so I'm in the same boat as the lads, really. Everyone is just calm, relaxed and excited. The whole city is. The club, the manager and the players can't wait now for the whistle to go."