I would sell Newcastle United stars Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson on two conditions

They are two players of distinction, England internationals both, who have served Newcastle United more than well. Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson have earned Geordie gratitude and stand high in the estimation of Eddie Howe.

However in the harsh realistic world of professional football it is beyond the time for United to face up to a burning question: should they be sold this summer before it is too late?

I have been advocating such bold thinking for some time now but I make no apology for bringing it up again. Maybe Trippier is about to get moved into the departure lounge to await a flight but will Wilson follow him?

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By their own admittance United have not sold well enough or often enough since the takeover which is one of the reasons why they had to scramble round jettisoning two players upon the June 30 accountancy deadline to address an imbalance and adhere to FFP rules.

That awoke all to the need to cash in on established players who could be surplus to requirements if United are not to fall into the same financial trap which squarely puts both Trippier and Wilson in the frame along with the likes of Miggy Almiron.

It is now or never with both of them because their contracts are about to run out at the end of the coming season which means in 12 months time they will be on free transfers. And at their age their face value is rapidly declining anyway - Trippier will be 34 in September and Wilson is 32 with a chronic injury record to boot.

We are eternally grateful to both for valuable services rendered but I would sell, providing in Wilson's case United can sign a cover centre-forward in the little time to find such an animal who falls within their financial budget and is willing to sit behind the class act of the day Alexander Isak. That is two big conditions.

Trippier, whose replacement Tino Livramento is already in house, has been a truly magnificent servant. He signed in January of 2022 when Newcastle were nought but relegation fodder and he had just won La Liga with Atletico Madrid to go alongside his Champions League final appearance of 2019 when in Tottenham colours.

Tripps has gone on to play 92 games for us, scoring four goals. Wilson's record, over twice as long a period, is a commendable 48 goals from limited opportunity, only 108 matches in all competitions stretching across four seasons.

That's how injury prone he is and he's on the unavailable list yet again having been sent home from Germany to consult a back specialist. Hurt before even kicking a ball in anger. If ever a message was sent out foghorn loud and clear this was it! What a good player if fit but that 'if' is written in 10 foot high letters.

Trippier has a commendable 54 England caps, including six at the Euros, while Callum has been restricted to nine for obvious reasons. If we would consider jettisoning Wilson because of his fitness record there is a feeling that in 2024 Kieran has shown signs of age catching up with him despite his Euro heroics. Even the finest cannot go on forever and time waits for no footballer.

United have fudged the No.9 situation for far too long in my opinion until it is almost too late to do something constructive about it. They have gambled on Wilson's availability because he is a fine goalscorer but it didn't work last season when they failed to make Europe. Now time is not on their side to both sell and buy so they could be forced to gamble yet again and then lose him on a free transfer which means no cash to help with a replacement.

May I go as far as to say that even if United get everything else right - keep Howe and all their blue chip players plus sign a right-winger and a centre-half - but fail to sign a No.9, their lack of reliable cover up top will remain their Achilles heel in the quest for Champions League football and could cost them dearly.

As things stand, Wilson may muster only around £12m on the market and then who will take a chance on his track record not in goals but putting his foot over the touchline? Perhaps only the Saudis which could also be the destination of Trippier, too.

Should time overtake United, as I suspect it might, and they are forced to go again flying by the seat of their pants with only Wilson in reserve, then they must push on beyond September 1 trying to set up an incoming striker to be signed in January.

If that proves beyond them because of the short window of opportunity strive even more so they can sign as soon as next summer's market opens. They cannot continue to be caught short.

Tough decisions must be made by Howe and Paul Mitchell without sentiment but with all eyes on the promised land where NUFC want to be. Only those with courage eventually win.