Eddie Howe reacts to ‘significant’ Kieran Trippier injury at Newcastle United - will he play again this season?

Kieran Trippier is fighting to play for Newcastle United again this season after fracturing a bone in his foot.

The England full-back’s free-kick sealed a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday - lifting the Magpies four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

However, his afternoon ended on a sour note, with an x-ray revealing Trippier had fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot.

The 31-year-old underwent a successful operation on Thursday - and Eddie Howe hopes he will recover in time for the remaining few games of the season.

‘No timescale’ on Trippier return

Howe said: “He had his operation yesterday and that went well. That was good news.

“I don’t know at this moment in time how long he’s going to be out. We obviously hope to have him back before the end of the season but it’s a significant injury which is a big blow to us as he was performing so well.

“In terms of definite timescale, no. We’ll have to see how his early rehab goes. The operation was a success but it’s an opportunity now for someone else to step up in his place.

“Certainly, we’re going to miss his leadership skills on the pitch and everything he was delivering for us.

“We’re confident we have enough quality in the squad to cover.”

‘An inspirational figure’

Newcastle are unbeaten in the four league games Trippier has played since arriving from Atletico Madrid for £12million.

And in two of those games, Trippier has scored two free-kicks and helped keep two clean sheets with United currently on a three-match winning run.

“He is an inspirational figure,” Howe said. “Certainly from knowing the young Kieran to working with him, I think he’s changed and developed many facets of not just his game but personality.

“I can’t compliment him enough on everything he’s achieved in his career and how he’s gone about it to lead into the person he is now.

“I think the players have found him an inspirational figure but that won’t change.

“He won’t necessarily be on the pitch with them but for a period of time he will be supporting them from the training ground and be around them in the treatment room.

“He’s got a big part to play even though he’s not actually on the pitch.”