Eddie Howe has admitted he cannot be certain that Kieran Trippier will play again this season after the England right-back underwent surgery on a broken bone in a foot on Thursday.
Trippier has excelled in a Newcastle shirt since arriving from Atlético Madrid for £12m early last month and his manager described the absence as “a big blow” to the team’s struggle against relegation.
“The operation went well, which was good news, but I don’t know how long he’s going to be out,” said Howe. “We hope to have him back before the end of the season but it’s obviously a significant injury which is a blow to us because he was performing so well. We’re going to have to see how his early rehab goes.
“Sadly, we’re going to miss his leadership skills on the pitch and everything that he was delivering for us. Kieran’s scored two goals in the last two games [the wins against Everton and Aston Villa] which have been defining moments for us but we’re confident we have enough quality in the squad to cover for his absence.”
Whereas some injured players prefer to separate themselves from teammates while they recover, Howe is confident Trippier will continue to prove a galvanising presence in the dressing room. “The players here find Kieran an inspirational figure and that won’t change,” he said. “He won’t be on the pitch but he will still be around them at the training ground.”
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Howe has remained close to Trippier since signing him for Burnley earlier in his career and is impressed by the defender’s maturation in recent years. “I can’t compliment Kieran enough on everything he’s achieved,” he said. “Having known the young Kieran I realise he’s changed and developed many facets of his personality.”
A run of three straight wins before Saturday’s lunchtime visit to West Ham has lifted Newcastle one place and four points clear of the bottom three but Howe’s side were forced to travel to London by road after their planned charter flight was cancelled.
