Eddie Howe issues worrying Newcastle United injury update ahead of Chelsea clash

Eddie Howe admits Kieran Trippier's injury is "a concern" for Newcastle United after the right-back limped out of the 3-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The England right-back withdrew in the 52nd minute with United 2-0 up following first-half goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. Howe says Trippier picked up a calf injury, making him a doubt for the visit to Chelsea a week on Monday.

"He felt something in his calf and had to come off the pitch," said the Magpies' boss. "That is a concern for us. I don't know how serious it is.

Trippier's replacement Tino Livramento added a third goal during stoppage time when raced into the box before scooping the ball past Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

The win was Newcastle's first at St James' Park since December 16 as they moved up to eighth in the Premier League table, boosting their hopes of European qualification.

Howe said: "It was a big win. We knew being back at home having not won for a while... our home form has been so good since I came to the football club.

"Staying up and making the top four, our home form was the bed rock of all our success so to have probably our first wobble here was a concern. We're delighted to win today, it was a big win for us.

"We made a slight tweak to our normal way of playing. We always analyse our opposition and I know there are a lot of people who say we play the same way every week but that's not the case, there is always tweaks and little things we try to try and that was one today to maybe play slightly more transitional."