Newcastle manager Eddie Howe confirmed on Friday that right-back Kieran Trippier will be sidelined for at least two games due to a calf injury sustained during last weekend’s match against Wolverhampton.
Trippier was substituted early in the second half of Newcastle’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton. As a result, he is expected to miss Newcastle’s upcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea on Monday and the FA Cup quarterfinal match against Manchester City next Saturday.
Additionally, the injury is likely to prevent Trippier from participating in England’s upcoming friendlies during the international break later this month.
“It’s a minor injury, but the scans showed enough to probably keep him out for the next two games, and we hope he’ll be back for the first game after the international break, although that’s not guaranteed,” Howe stated during a news conference.
Tino Livramento, who replaced Trippier in the 52nd minute against Wolves and scored in stoppage time for his first Newcastle goal since joining last summer, will likely continue to feature prominently in the absence of Trippier.
“It’s been a brilliant start to his Newcastle career, whether he’s played right back or left back or in the wide positions, which he had done especially during our injury difficulties,” Howe praised Livramento. He further added, “I’ve been delighted with how he’s started here.”
With the opportunity to earn more playing time, Livramento has a chance to solidify his place in the team. Howe emphasized the importance of healthy competition within the squad, stating, “If you have that in your squad, I think you’ve got a healthy squad.”
