HARRISON ASHBY cannot wait to learn from fellow right-back Kieran Trippier on Newcastle United’s training ground – and is hoping to follow in his new team-mate’s footsteps as the Magpies’ latest set-piece specialist.

Ashby’s move from West Ham United was confirmed this morning, with the 21-year-old having joined the Magpies in a £3m deal.

The youngster has made seven senior appearances for the Hammers, and has been signed to work alongside Javier Manquillo and provide additional cover and competition for Trippier, who has established himself as one of the leading full-backs in the Premier League following his move to Tyneside from Atletico Madrid last January.

Trippier’s presence was one of the key factors behind Ashby’s decision to swap the London Stadium for St James’ Park, and Newcastle’s latest arrival cannot wait to start working with the England star.

“I’d say that I’m a modern full-back,” said Ashby, who is a Scotland Under-21 international. “I like to get up and down and put crosses in, and I like a long shot, that’s kind of my thing.

“I’m quite similar to Tripps, I like to get up and down, and for me, him being here is a big attraction. He’s one of the best right-backs in the league, if not in Europe, so coming in to learn from him, especially when we’ve got similar styles of play, is going to be a big thing in my progression to being as good, if not better.”

Ashby expects to learn plenty from Trippier in open play, and the youngster is also hoping to tap into the 32-year-old’s prowess when it comes to taking free-kicks and set-pieces.

As skipper of West Ham’s Under-21 side, Ashby took responsibility for taking free-kicks and corners, and is keen to pick up any tips from one of the best dead-ball specialists in the game.

“Taking free-kicks never really appealed to me until I got to 17 or 18,” said Ashby, who was a room-mate of Declan Rice as a teenager at West Ham. “That’s where lockdown helped me quite a lot.

“While football was off, I was at my local 3G practising what I could, and free-kicks and set-pieces were the thing. I just kept practising and got better and better, and gave the go-ahead to the coach saying I wanted set-pieces and free-kicks. Since then, quite a lot have gone in.”

Having completed his move from London this morning, Ashby cannot wait to get started with the Magpies.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” he said, in an interview with NUFC TV. “It’s something that’s been in the pipeline for quite a while, and been in my head as something that I’ve wanted to do. So, to be here now is a big relief.”