I knew I never had a chance at Man City - now I'm a key man for England at Euro 2024

On the eve of England's Euro 2024 opener, Keiran Trippier looks set to start at left-back for the Three Lions.

Manchester City have three players in the England squad, with each of them in line to play a key role for the Euros. John Stones is fit after an injury scare to lead the defence, with vice captain Kyle Walker given the number two squad number to underline his position as first-choice right-back.

Phil Foden has the potential to take the tournament by the scruff of the neck, while academy graduate Cole Palmer in with a chance of being a gamechanger off the bench a year after leaving City for Chelsea.

ALSO READ: Kyle Walker's brutal reality check to Jack Grealish over England snub raises Man City questions

ALSO READ: Predicting Man City at Euro 2024 - Doku brilliant, De Bruyne pressure, Foden stars

With Walker set to start at right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been lined up to play in midfield, and Keiran Trippier will deputise at left-back amid Luke Shaw's race to be fit.

Trippier is another to have come through the City academy, but the Newcastle man has admitted he never expected to make the grade at the Etihad - because Micah Richards was ahead of him at right-back.

Asked if he may have made it in Manchester had Pep Guardiola been the manager when he was coming through, Trippier told the Overlap: "Not really, if I am going to be honest with you. I look at my career and I wouldn’t change anything. I think at the time I was there you had [Pablo] Zabaleta who was one of the best right backs for many years. Micah [Richards] was there as well, and I went through the transition where they had just been taken over.

"They started buying loads of players and I needed to get out and play. I was at Barnsley [on loan] and loved the experience of that. I think there is no shame in dropping down a league. It was tough for me at Manchester City at the time because I was never going to play. That is when I signed for Burnley.

“I go back to my first game at Barnsley, I was playing next to Darren Moore, and he was brilliant with me. It was a good experience over a year and a half at Barnsley and I just wanted more of it and of course I was at City for many years in the youth system. The players that decided to stay there and get more money, now are not really playing, so just getting game time was important no matter where it was.

"Back then, when you’re young, you don’t play for the money, it is more about the pure enjoyment of playing football and that was what my main focus was. I knew a few lads at Burnley when I was there, and everything was perfect.”

Kieran Trippier was speaking on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet